In an unusual episode of administrative drama, Acting Governor of Sindh, Syed Awais Qadir Shah, was unable to conduct a key security meeting at Governor House Karachi after discovering the premises were locked, with the keys reportedly taken abroad by Governor Kamran Tessori himself.
According to details reported by 24NewsHD on Friday, Kamran Tessori locked his office and several rooms inside the Governor House before leaving the country and allegedly took the keys with him.
As a result, Acting Governor Syed Awais Qadir Shah was denied access to the venue where he had scheduled an important meeting on law and order ahead of Muharram.
When officials accompanying Acting Governor Awais Qadir tried to enter the Governor's House for the meeting, they were stopped at the gate.
Senior officials, including the Sindh Home Minister and Inspector General of Police, had already arrived but returned without participating in the meeting due to the standoff.
Upon inquiry, the Principal Secretary to the Governor informed the Acting Governor, “The Governor is abroad and has also taken the keys of the Governor's House with him."
Visibly upset, Acting Governor Awais Qadir Shah termed the incident a “contempt of the constitution”, stating that a person holding a constitutional office must uphold the Constitution.
--Acting Governor in SHC--
Awais Qadir emphasised that as the acting governor, he had every right to enter the premises and chair the meeting, especially during a sensitive time like the upcoming holy month of Muharram ul Haram.
Calling it a breach of Article 104 of the Constitution, Awais Qadir Shah approached the Sindh High Court (SHC) through Advocate Azain Nadeem.
In his petition, he said that since Governor Kamran Tessori’s departure abroad on June 2nd, he had not been granted access to the Governor's House for official duties.
The court held an urgent hearing and issued an order allowing the acting governor access to all official offices, excluding residential quarters, inside the Governor's House.
The court also summoned a report from the principal secretary by June 23rd and directed that copies of the ruling be sent to both the President of Pakistan and the Principal Secretary of the Governor's House, Sindh.
--Governor's House spokesperson's statement--
The Governor's House spokesperson issued a statement claiming the Acting Governor had “misunderstood the situation”.
The spokesperson added that senior officials, including the Home Secretary, IG Sindh, DIGs East, West, South, CTD, and Special Branch, were present in the conference room at the scheduled time.
Meanwhile, Governor Kamran Tessori, alerted to the issue, has sought a report from his principal secretary within the next 24 hours.
Reporters: Mumtaz Jamali and Khurshid Rehmani