TMO ordered to deseal factory

Petitioner’s counsel says owner, employees detained for 26 hours.

LAHORE:

The Lahore High Court on Tuesday ordered Allama Iqbal Town’s municipal officer to deseal a factory, sealed allegedly at Law Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan’s direction.

Counsel for the town municipal officer (TMO) failed to satisfy Justice Khalid Mehmood Khan when asked why only one factory had been sealed. The counsel told the judge that the Environment Protection Department was also taking action against other factories, operating in residential areas.

Petitioner’s counsel Muhammad Azhar Siddique told the court that the factory was owned by brothers Zakauddin Sheikh (petitioner) and Ziauddin Sheikh. He said Ziauddin had registered several cases against the petitioner but none of the allegations had been proven. The investigation, he said, had been conducted by DIG Major (retired) Mubasharullah.

He said the TMA had sealed the factory at the behest of the law minister despite a stay order issued by a civil court. He said the TMA officials had also detained the petitioner and some factory workers for at least 26 hours.

The judge adjourned the hearing till April 24 after ordering that the factory be desealed.

In another court, a notice was issued to the Nawankot station house officer in a petition seeking registration of a case against a TMA official for detaining Zakauddin and others. According to the petition, an additional district and sessions judge had directed the police to register the case but the SHO had ignored the order. The SHO was ordered to appear before the court on April 12.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 4^th, 2012.