SHC seeks reports on electrocution deaths from NEPRA, police

Also seeks attorney general's reply on the dissolution of PMDC

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) sought on Thursday reports from the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) and police, over a plea filed against K-Electric (KE) by Jamaat-e-Islami Karachi Chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman.

A two-member bench, comprising Justice Iqbal Kalhoro and Justice Abdul Mobeen Lakho, heard the plea, which states that 46 people died during rains in Karachi due to KE's negligence. It further mentions that police neither registered any FIRs of the electrocution deaths nor did they initiate an investigation into the matter.

The petition asks for KE to be directed to make its installations secure and pay compensation to the affected families.

At the hearing, Rehman's counsel informed the court that NEPRA and police have prepared separate reports on deaths during rains in Karachi, and said that both the reports are of immense importance. He requested the court to seek these reports.

Responding to the counsel's appeal, the court issued directives for NEPRA and police to submit the reports and adjourned the hearing till January 27.

Dissolution of PMDC

Meanwhile, another bench, comprising Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Agha Faisal, directed the government lawyer to ask the Attorney General of Pakistan to submit a reply on a plea challenging the dissolution of the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) and formation of the Pakistan Medical Commission.

The plea has been filed by the employees of PMDC.

Presenting their case, the petitioners' counsel said, "Employees' 30 years of service was terminated in a minute." He said that the dissolution of PMDC had deprived the employees of their jobs instead of creating more jobs.

The counsel expressed concern that appointments to be made in the medical commission have already been decided.

Saying that 300 people have been dismissed though a single ordinance, he asked the court to nullify the federal government's move of dissolving PMDC and declare it illegal.

Following this, the court, irked by the Centre's failure to submit a reply on the plea, remarked, "Tell us if you [the Centre] don't want to defend the laws made by you [the federal government]." It further commented that it is a serious matter and it is for this reason that the court has sought a reply from the attorney general on the plea. The next hearing should be conducted properly, it rebuked.

The court concluded the hearing, directing the government lawyer to ask the attorney general to submit a reply on the plea.

Challenging ban on cryptocurrency

In another case, the bench comprising Justice Kalhoro and Justice Lakho issued notices to Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) officials over a plea challenging the ban on cryptocurrencies in Pakistan.

The petitioner's counsel maintained at the hearing that the ban imposed by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) is "unjust and [a] violation of law." He said that around 6,000 graduates are awarded degrees every year in Pakistan and introducing cryptocurrency will boost investment in the country, like it has in other developed countries, as it does not pose any threat to the national interest. The counsel said the government has been ordered by the court to legislate on the issue.

He moved the court to annul the notification, banning the use of cryptocurrency, issued by SBP and direct the government to legislate on the matter.

At this, the court remarked that FIA should provide assistance for defining what is cryptocurrency as its definition is still not clear and issued notices to FIA officials.

Ministry of Law and Justice, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Science and Technology, governor of SBP, chairperson of the Federal Board of Revenue, chairperson of Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan and FIA have been nominated as parties in the plea.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 6^th, 2019.