KARACHI: A divisional bench of High Court of Sindh (SHC) comprising Chief Justice Sajjad Ali Shah and Justice Muhammad Junaid Ghaffar on Monday reserved orders in case pertaining to quality of pesticides after a report from HEJ was submitted before the court.

The bench was hearing a constitutional petition filed by Jaffar Brothers and A.Q Enterprises who imported material with active ingredient “Fipronil”. On a previous hearing Federal Plant Protection Department representative told the court that as per test of their department, the pesticide was found to be sub-standard. A similar report was given by a provincial agency. Deputy Attorney General Pakistan, Aslam Butt appearing for the federation submitted that respondent federal institutions have a less role to play and main responsibility lies with the province. The counsel for petitioner pleaded for an independent test needed to solve the controversy at which the bench agreeing to the submission ordered that goods in dispute be sent to HEJ Research Institute of Chemistry (HEJRIC) for an independent report.

Today at the outset of the hearing a report from the HEJRIC was submitted before the court which said that sample tested conforms to the quality standard. The bench after perusing the report and final arguments by the counsel for petitioner and DAG Aslam Butt reserved the judgment.

The life of consignment already expired on Jan 31.