SHC seeks report on open electric wires

Hears plea regarding death of four men who lost their lives due to electrocution in Defence

KARACHI:

A two-member bench in the Sindh High Court (SHC), headed by Justice Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi, heard a plea regarding the death of four young men who died due to electrocution in Defence area and directed Nepra and other parties to submit a detailed report on the open wires.

K Electric's counsel submitted that the infrastructure has been improved as per the directives of Nepra. He said that K-Electric's infrastructure is affected by cable operators. Justice Rizvi remarked that device is being used now, cable system should be abolished. The court adjourned the hearing till the second week of November.

In the petition, the court has been pleaded to issue an order to conduct an audit of K Electric infrastructure that has caused loss of lives and property.

The petition contended that government and Nepra have not taken any effective action against K Electric. The court is requested to form a judicial commission on this whole matter. The judicial commission should be ordered to pay compensation to the families of the victims.

Judgment reserved

The SHC reserved its verdict after hearing arguments of the lawyers of the parties on the appeals of the police officers against the sentence in the murder case.

A two-member bench headed by Justice KK Agha heard the pleas. The petitioners' attorney said that decision of the punishments meted out to the accused by the subordinate court has flaws. The sentences awarded to the accused by the subordinate court ought to be annulled.

According to the prosecution, two police officers, Muhammad Daniyal and Bilal Rasheed were awarded death sentence by the Anti-Terrorism Court. The anti-terrorism judge awarded life imprisonment to former SHOs Tariq Mehmood, Tariq Rahim, and Azhar Ahsan in October 2021.

The court also sentenced three police constables, Shahid Usman, Ghulam Abbas, and Fawad Khan to life imprisonment.

Intizar Ahmed, 19, was fired and killed by police on January 13 for refusing to stop his car in the Defence area.

Notices issued

The same bench heard the petition against two restaurants - Sadabahar and Cafe Karachi Quetta - regarding occupying additional space adjacent to the Passport Office in Saddar area and issued notices to the owners.

The petitioner's counsel submitted that the restaurants, open all day, have occupied half the road as a result garbage is spread all around.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, October 7^th, 2022.