Sindh High Court (SHC) has directed Karachi Fisheries Harbor, Customs Collector, Pakistan Maritime Security Agency and other official respondents to submit their comments on a petition of fishermen seeking fishing permits. As many as 14 fishermen petitioners, including Muhammad Bashir and Abdul Jabbar, approached the Sindh High Court citing Karachi Fisheries Harbor, Customs Collector, Pakistan Maritime Security Agency, Pakistan Coast Guards and Livestock & Fisheries Department as respondents.
They submitted that they purchased the Indian fishing boats seized by Maritime Security Agency in an auction and paid all amount including taxes. They said that principal officer of Mercantile Department had also issued certificate to petitioners for sailing out the boats but Karachi Fisheries Harbor was not issuing fishing permits. They said that they had purchased boats by investing all their earnings but they were not allowed to sail out their boats for fishing as a result, they were unable to earn livelihood for their families. They requested the court to direct respondents to issue them fishing permits. After hearing preliminary hearing, the bench headed by Justice Nadeem Akhtar issued notice to respondents, advocate general Sindh and deputy attorney general, and adjourned the hearing of case to January 09, 2014.
