KARACHI: The Sindh High Court has issued a directive ensuring that Acting Governor Awais Qadir Shah is granted immediate entry to the Governor House.
The ruling was delivered during a hearing concerning a petition against the sealing of the Sindh Governor’s office. The court ordered the authorities to reopen all offices within the Governor House without delay and to submit a compliance report by Monday.In its remarks, the court emphasized that the Acting Governor possesses full authority to access any part of the Governor House and underscored that obstructing him from executing his constitutional responsibilities is unacceptable.
Earlier today, Awais Qadir Shah convened a high-level meeting at the Governor House to address the prevailing law and order situation. The meeting was scheduled to include the Interior Minister, the Inspector General of Police, four Deputy Inspectors General, CTD officials, and other senior officials. However, due to the gates being shut, the meeting was called off, forcing Shah and the officials to turn back. The Acting Governor expressed strong disappointment, stating that blocking a constitutional officeholder from performing their duties undermines the sanctity of the office.
Following this incident, Shah approached the Sindh High Court, asserting that Governor Kamran Tessori has been out of the country since June 2, and as the Acting Governor, he has the right to carry out official functions. He argued that denying him access to the Governor House constitutes a clear violation of constitutional rights.
A spokesperson for the Governor House dismissed the controversy as a “misunderstanding,” claiming that officials had arrived for the meeting and that a designated office was prepared. The spokesperson further stated that if Shah intended to use the main office, prior notice would have been necessary to make appropriate arrangements.
In response to the matter, Governor Kamran Tessori directed his Principal Secretary to investigate the incident. He also reaffirmed that the Governor House remains accessible to the public and expressed his respect for Awais Qadir Shah, both as Speaker and in his personal capacity.
