SHC seeks report on deaths in Keamari

The Sindh High Court has directed all the concerned agencies to submit a report within four weeks to file a case against a ship Hercules related to the deaths of citizens due to poisonous gas in Keamari in 2020.

During hearing of the application, the lawyer submitted that some of the victims have compromised and do not want to prosecute the case.

A citizen said that my young son Ahsan Farooq, a graduation student, was killed. "I have been compensated and now I don't want to pursue the case," he said.

The Additional Advocate General stated that the case should be disposed of as reconciliation has been reached with the victims' families. The court remarked that the case is in the larger interest of public and cannot be disposed of in this way. First, the court will hear all the parties and see the merits of the case.

The court adjourned the hearing for an indefinite period while directing all the concerned institutions to submit the report in four weeks.

In the petition filed, the position was taken that there was a gas leak incident from the Hercules ship in Keamari on February 16, 2020. As many as 14 people died and more than 300 fell unconscious due to the poisonous gas.

The matter should be investigated and a case should be registered against those responsible.

Probe against CM House employee

The Sindh High Court has directed to complete the inquiry and submit the report on the application related to the occupation of land against the employee of the Chief Minister's House.

A two-member bench headed by Justice Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi heard a petition, related to possession of land, against an employee of the CM House.

The public prosecutor submitted that an inquiry has been initiated against Syed Sabit Ali Shah.

Justice Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi remarked that the court will not conduct any hearing on the application until the inquiry is completed.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 8^th, 2022.