KARACHI: The Sindh High Court on Monday once again directed the provincial police chief to file his reply on a constitutional petition seeking measures against the manufacture and sale of gutka and mainpuri.

The SHC had almost two months ago directed the inspector general of police, Sindh, to file his reply on the rejoinder of the petitioner who alleged that the hazardous gutka was being manufactured and sold openly in the city, especially in parts of Karachi`s district West, under the patronage of police and officials of the provincial and city administrations.

When the case was last heard before the court`s two-month vacation, a two-judge bench had askedthe IGP to file his comments on the rejoinder of the petitioner, Rashid Khan.

The petitioner had filed the rejoinder to the comments filed by the senior superintendent of police (West) who had denied the manufacture and sale of gutka in the district.

In his rejoinder, the petitioner submitted that he had moved three applications to district West police seeking action against the manufacture and sale of gutka in Surjani Town, Orangi Town, Baldia Town and other areas. `However, no action was taken against the menace and manufacturing units were openly operating in the whole district,` he alleged.

He asked the court to direct the respondents to take effective action against the culprits involved in running a gutka manufacturing factory at Ghaziabad, Orangi Town`s Sector 11 1/2.The petitioner also sought disciplinary action against the officials involved in patronising the menace in the city.

A two-judge bench headed by Justice Munib Akhtar directed the IGP to file his reply on the petitioner`s rejoinder and put off the hearing to Sept 22.

MQM-H rally A division bench of the SHC directed the provincial authorities to file their respective comments on a constitutional petition filed by Mohajir Qaumi Movement-Haqigi (MQM-H) seel(ing permission for holding a public gathering at Nishtar Park.

The party filed the petition through one of its workers, Gulzar Ahmed, who had submitted that the Haqigi planned to hold a public gathering inthe second week of September, but the administration was not willing to permit it.

He said the party had approached the administration several times for getting permission to conduct the public meeting but to no avail.

The petitioner submitted that conducting political activities and public gatherings was a right of the party, as enshrined in the Constitution, but it was being deprived of its right.

Impleading the home secretary, Karachi commissioner, Korangi SSP and deputy commissioner and others as the respondents, the party sought court`s permission to hold a public gathering at Nishtar Park.

The Haqigi rally, which had been planned for July 23 in Landhi, was earlier cancelled at the eleventh hour when the authorities concerned did not grant them permission.