KARACHI: A two-member bench, comprising Justice Muhammad Junaid Ghaffar and Justice Agha Faisal dismissed constitutional petition as non-maintainable filed by M/s Ahmed & Kamran Trader Pvt Ltd against impugned order over restraining from import the product 98% methyl bromide + 2% chloropicrin and / or to sale, market, distribute the same.
On 15 March 2021, court heard arguments of both parties and passed order and observed that “Humayun Rashid Advocate had appeared before us and we had confronted him as to maintainability of this Petition. The precise reason was pendency of a Civil Suit (136/2021) on the Original Side of this Court against the Petitioner seeking a Declaration in respect of Petitioners import permission of the item in question, the said certificate stands cancelled; now impugned in this petition.
We had heard him at length, and after being confronted, he had sought time to seek instructions as to withdrawal of instant Petition and seeking remedy by way of a Civil Suit; however, today another Counsel has affected appearance and has tried to reargue the matter afresh, including maintainability of this Petition.
According to him, this Petition has been filed against unlawful cancellation of import permission, whereas, the Civil Court cannot take cognizance of such conduct of the Respondents; hence, the Petition is maintainable.
We have heard Mr. Shahid Kandwal Advocate today and are of the view that such conduct on the part of the Petitioner’s Counsel cannot be appreciated.
Humayun Rashid was before us and he had made all efforts to satisfy as to maintainability of this Petition but after failing to do so, sought time to seek instructions for withdrawal of instant petition, which though was not so exactly recorded in the said order; but nonetheless, we remember it and as an indulgence, matter was adjourned for today.
Now another Counsel is before us and wants to proceed afresh, whereas, on perusal of the record it reflects that he has not even signed the Vakalatnama.
Such conduct on the part of the counsel needs to be deprecated. Be that as it may, it is a matter of fact that a Suit has been filed by the Plaintiff3 who has not been arrayed as a Respondent in this Petition, wherein, the present Petitioner is Respondent No. 10 and a learned Single Judge on the Original Side of this is Court has taken cognizance of the same and has already passed a restraining order dated 20.01.2021.
The operative part of the same reads as under: – “Issue notice to the Defendants for 09.02.2021. Till the next date of hearing, Defendants are restrained to import the product 98% methyl bromide + 2% chloropicrin and / or to sale, market, distribute the same”.
It further appears that the said order was then impugned by the present Petitioner in High Court Appeal No. 22/2021 which is though pending as stated; however, it appears that the Petitioner has remained unsuccessful in obtaining any ad-interim relief.
If further appears that the Petitioner is contesting that Suit, including challenge to its import permission (now cancelled), and now by way of this Petition wants this Court to take cognizance on the ground that a further cause of action has accrued.
We are not inclined to entertain this petition which even otherwise has been filed firstly without joining the Plaintiff in the pending Suit as it is apparently not maintainable.
Therefore, a High Court under its general jurisdiction conferred on it under or by law and the Constitution may as well exercise such power e.g., this Court under its original Civil Jurisdiction may also enforce the existing law in the light of Article 2-A, as challenge to any law on the ground that it contravenes a provision of the Constitution can validly be made in a civil suit6. Accordingly, in our considered view the present Petition in the given facts and circumstances of this case is not maintainable, whereas, the Petitioner has the remedy of approaching the learned Single Judge on the Original Side of this Court as above. Petition stands dismissed with pending applications in limine.
