Fixing responsibility: Parova SHO blamed for Chashma Sugar Mills fatalities

PHC rejects enquiry which accuses cop for not reporting previous protests against plant to higher authorities.

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court was informed on Thursday that responsibility has been fixed on the SHO of Parova police station over the Chashma Sugar Mills incident in DI Khan. At least 10 people died on May 2 after they were exposed to poisonous fumes in a water channel.

However, the bench was not satisfied with the enquiry report prepared by the provincial government and ordered a fresh investigation be conducted by all departments related to the incident.

Additional Advocate General (AAG) Waqar Ahmad Khan produced the report of the incident in a sealed envelope and told the bench of Chief Justice Mazhar Alam Miankhel and Justice Malik Manzoor Hussain the same was forwarded to the chief secretary of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

According to the enquiry report, locals had protested against the issue of poisonous material and blocked the roads days before the fatal incident. However, the bench learnt, the Parova SHO had dispersed the protesters and did not bring the matter to the attention of his seniors. The enquiry had been conducted by DI Khan assistant commissioner, district prison assistant superintendent and assistant public prosecutor. The report also appreciated the role of the commissioner in the situation.

Abdul Latif Afridi, counsel of the mills, requested the court allow opening the plant – shutdown since May 2 – as salaries of employees remain pending. However, the court ordered as the matter was not in front of the bench, the owner should approach a proper forum.

Excise and Taxation Director General Javed Marwat told the court they had ordered a departmental investigation into the matter which would result in fixing responsibility.

At the previous hearing, the court learnt Chashma Sugar Mills was producing ethanol, industrial alcohol, but did not have a no-objection certificate to transport it to other areas. The excise and taxation DG was summoned over this issue.

The court on Thursday ordered all relevant departments to conduct their own investigation into the matter as the provincial government’s investigation was not satisfactory as it fixed responsibility on the local SHO.

The bench also learnt the families of the deceased were paid Rs2.5 million and relatives of injured victims Rs0.5 million. On May 11, the court showed displeasure over the enquiry reports submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency, department of industries and the police regarding the incident.

A complaint was filed by Muhammad Hashim of DI Khan at the PHC Directorate of Human Rights which was then converted to a writ petition.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 27^th, 2014.