Sindh govt reply sought over inter-city public transport ban
Issues notice to home dept over restricting journalists, security personnel from pillion-riding
A Reuters file image.
KARACHI:
The Sindh High Court (SHC) sought on Thursday a reply from the Sindh government on a petition challenging the ban imposed on inter-city bus services in the province.
During the hearing, a two-member bench, comprising Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Yousuf Ali Sayeed, directed the provincial government to submit its reply to the petition on June 1, asking why inter-city bus travel was banned in Sindh when no restrictions were placed on it in the rest of the country.
"There needs to be a uniform policy [for inter-city travel] across the country," stated Justice Mazhar.
At this, the Sindh additional advocate general informed the court that all decisions pertaining to lockdown restrictions were taken in consultation with health experts, adding, however, that the Sindh government had been negotiating on the matter with registered transporters.
Transporters, though, complained of the Sindh chief minister and Sindh transport minister's "vicious" behaviour towards them. They stressed that inter-city bus services were resumed in the other provinces subject to pandemic standard operating procedures, while they remained prohibited in Sindh. Consequently, millions of workers affiliated with the transport sector had lost their jobs, they lamented.
Seeking details of Sindh government's policy on public transport, the court sought its reply on the plea on June 1.
Pillion-riding ban
The same bench also issued a notice to the home department over a plea challenging the ban on pillion-riding for journalists and law enforcement personnel.
At the hearing, the petitioner complained that while shopping malls and markets had been granted permission to open, the ban on pillion-riding for journalists was upheld.
"They are at risk of losing their jobs due to the ban, and as they don't earn much, they cannot afford to pay for public transport on a regular basis," he said.
The petitioner moved the court to order the relevant authorities to lift the ban.
He complained that the home department had issued a notification imposing a ban on pillion-riding for journalists and law enforcement personnel even when the court had earlier directed the government to review its restrictions. He termed the government's move to restrict journalists and law enforcement personnel from pillion-riding "a sheer violation of legal and human rights."
Addressing the petitioner's concerns regarding job security in the wake of the ban, Justice Mazhar stated that the Sindh government had issued an ordinance in that regard and if any media house fired an employee, the affected individual could now approach the relevant forum against the move.
However, the petitioner insisted that media house employees continued to face layoffs despite the issuance of the ordinance.
At this, the court made it incumbent upon the Sindh government to ensure that the ordinance was properly enforced and take action against any employer sacking its workers.
Issuing notices to the home department and other parties over the plea, the court adjourned the hearing.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 22nd, 2020.
The Sindh High Court (SHC) sought on Thursday a reply from the Sindh government on a petition challenging the ban imposed on inter-city bus services in the province.
During the hearing, a two-member bench, comprising Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Yousuf Ali Sayeed, directed the provincial government to submit its reply to the petition on June 1, asking why inter-city bus travel was banned in Sindh when no restrictions were placed on it in the rest of the country.
"There needs to be a uniform policy [for inter-city travel] across the country," stated Justice Mazhar.
At this, the Sindh additional advocate general informed the court that all decisions pertaining to lockdown restrictions were taken in consultation with health experts, adding, however, that the Sindh government had been negotiating on the matter with registered transporters.
Transporters, though, complained of the Sindh chief minister and Sindh transport minister's "vicious" behaviour towards them. They stressed that inter-city bus services were resumed in the other provinces subject to pandemic standard operating procedures, while they remained prohibited in Sindh. Consequently, millions of workers affiliated with the transport sector had lost their jobs, they lamented.
Seeking details of Sindh government's policy on public transport, the court sought its reply on the plea on June 1.
Pillion-riding ban
The same bench also issued a notice to the home department over a plea challenging the ban on pillion-riding for journalists and law enforcement personnel.
At the hearing, the petitioner complained that while shopping malls and markets had been granted permission to open, the ban on pillion-riding for journalists was upheld.
"They are at risk of losing their jobs due to the ban, and as they don't earn much, they cannot afford to pay for public transport on a regular basis," he said.
The petitioner moved the court to order the relevant authorities to lift the ban.
He complained that the home department had issued a notification imposing a ban on pillion-riding for journalists and law enforcement personnel even when the court had earlier directed the government to review its restrictions. He termed the government's move to restrict journalists and law enforcement personnel from pillion-riding "a sheer violation of legal and human rights."
Addressing the petitioner's concerns regarding job security in the wake of the ban, Justice Mazhar stated that the Sindh government had issued an ordinance in that regard and if any media house fired an employee, the affected individual could now approach the relevant forum against the move.
However, the petitioner insisted that media house employees continued to face layoffs despite the issuance of the ordinance.
At this, the court made it incumbent upon the Sindh government to ensure that the ordinance was properly enforced and take action against any employer sacking its workers.
Issuing notices to the home department and other parties over the plea, the court adjourned the hearing.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 22nd, 2020.