The Sindh High Court issued notices on Wednesday to the federal and provincial governments over a plea seeking investigations into rain-induced urban flooding in Karachi.
A two-member bench, comprising Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Yousuf Ali Sayeed, heard the petition, which maintained that the city had flooded during the rain but the authorities were not on ground to deal with the situation. Dozens of people were killed in separate incidents during rainfall, stated the petition.
The petitioner prayed the court to order investigations and take action against the authorities who did not prepare for the predicted weather in advance.
The bench combined the petition along with a similar one filed earlier, and sought detailed replies from the parties by September 9.
Toxic gas at KPT
Meanwhile, another bench comprising Justice Muhammad Iqbal Kalhoro and Justice Shamsuddin Abbasi issued notices to Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Ali Zaidi, the Karachi Port Trust (KPT) chairperson, and other parties, over a plea pertaining to the emission of poisonous gas at KPT.
The petition claimed Zaidi had allowed a ship carrying containers full of soya beans to dock at KPT illegally and without precautions on February 15, adding that at least 14 people were killed by the poisonous emissions while around 400 people were affected.
The petitioner prayed the court to set up a joint investigation team (JIT) to probe the matter and take civil action against those responsible.
The bench sought replies from Zaidi, the KPT chairperson and other parties by September 13.
Bus terminals
Separately, the bench comprising Justice Mazhar and Justice Sayeed summoned the Sindh chief secretary to court over a plea pertaining to the establishment and closure of inter-province bus terminals in the city.
The court had ordered provision of 100 acres of land to set up bus terminals but the orders had not yet been complied with, remarked Justice Mazhar. "Legislation on this issue is the government's job, not the court's," he said, adding that several matters were brought to court because the provincial government and city administration did not function properly.
The chief secretary and the Karachi mayor had claimed the government was providing land outside the city for bus terminals, said Justice Mazhar. "Will this matter remain pending for the next 50 years?"
The transport secretary told the bench that 250 bus terminals in Karachi were illegal, while transporters were allowed to park their buses at the three terminals outside the city.
The bench remarked that the chief secretary would have to appear in court in person on September 29 and explain why the Sindh government had not yet complied with the court orders.
Appointing the ombudsman
The same bench granted an extension to the Sindh government for its reply over a plea challenging the provincial ombudsman's appointment of and the relevant legislation.
The petitioner maintained that the amendment in laws granting authority to the Sindh chief minister to appoint the ombudsman was illegal.
Justice Mazhar expressed annoyance at the Sind government for not yet submitting its written reply despite judicial orders.
"The laws have been challenged but the government is not taking it seriously. We will pass written orders next time that the government has not submitted the reply despite the extension," he remarked.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 3rd, 2020.
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