Emergency response: SHC judges irked by indifferent attitude of authorities

None of the govt functionaries and officials had bothered to file comments even after two years

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) expressed on Friday extreme displeasure over the conduct of various government functionaries who have failed to file reports on the facilities to rescue people from public buildings during an emergency, despite the lapse of two years.

Headed by Chief Justice Maqbool Baqar, the division bench ordered them to file such reports within a month or be prepared to pay heavy fines.



These directives came during suo motu proceedings initiated after the tragic death of a young man who fell from the burning State Life Building on Abdullah Haroon Road in December 2012. Three months prior to the incident, 259 workers trapped inside a garment factory - Ali Enterprises - were burnt alive in Baldia on September 11, 2012.

On December 2, 2012, the court had directed the federal, provincial and local departments’ heads, the police chief and home secretary to file reports regarding the availability of facilities to cope with emergencies at public and private buildings in the metropolis.

Taking up the matter on Friday, the two judges noted that none of them had bothered to submit their reports and comments despite the lapse of two years. “It is really unfortunate to note that despite repeated opportunities and lapse of more than two years, the comments have not yet been filed by the respondents,” remarked CJ Baqar.

“We would once again direct the respondents to file comments within four weeks from today or else heavy fines shall be imposed on the defaulting respondents,” the judges warned, before adjourning the hearing.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 20^th, 2014.