KARACHI(National Times)- The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Friday heard a petition challenging the removal of K-Electric CEO Moonis Alvi from his position. During the hearing, the Provincial Ombudsman submitted a written response, declaring Moonis Alvi’s petition as non-maintainable. Both the provincial ombudsman and the female complainant filed their written replies in court. The ombudsman argued that the petition was inadmissible and should be dismissed. It was also pointed out that a case regarding the jurisdiction of the Ombudsman is already pending before the Supreme Court, hence the Sindh High Court is not the competent forum to decide on jurisdiction matters. The court directed Moonis Alvi’s counsel to submit a rejoinder and extended the stay order against Alvi’s removal until September 12. Justice Muhammad Iqbal Kalhoro inquired what further relief the petitioner was seeking, since a stay order was already granted. Advocate Abid Zuberi, representing Alvi, informed the court that an appeal had been filed with the Governor of Sindh against the Ombudsman’s decision. Justice Kalhoro then asked what decision the Governor had made on the appeal. The female complainant’s counsel stated that the Governor had rejected Moonis Alvi’s appeal. However, Abid Zuberi countered that no such rejection had occurred and that the hearing was actually scheduled for the upcoming Monday. Justice Kalhoro remarked that according to law, the petitioner has the right to appeal, and until a decision is made on the appeal, the Sindh High Court will not proceed further. He added that removing someone from office before the appeal is decided would be unjustified, and the matter should continue at the Governor’s level. “Otherwise, the Sindh High Court would be hearing the case for six months,” he said. “How can we impose such a severe penalty prematurely?” Moonis Alvi’s lawyer noted that many aspects of this case are being encountered for the first time, to which Justice Kalhoro responded, “You may be seeing many things for the first time, especially after the 26th constitutional amendment — now we have to deal with even more complexities.” It is worth noting that the Provincial Ombudsman had ordered Moonis Alvi’s removal from office on charges of harassing a female employee.