Public accountability: Lawyer seeks action over Urdu Bazar plaza fire

Petitioner claims govt depts failed to enforce laws.

LAHORE: A petition was moved in the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Wednesday, seeking action against government officials responsible for the Anarkali fire that claimed 13 lives.

The petitioner, Azhar Siddique, claimed that the incident was caused by the failure of several government departments who did not ensure the enforcement of relevant laws.

“The government departments must be directed to ensure the implementation of the relevant laws in letter and spirit to avoid such incidents in future. The Anarkali incident occurred due to the criminal negligence, inefficiency and carelessness of the departments concerned,” he stated.

“In the interest of justice and to protect the lives of citizens, their businesses and properties, a commission should be constituted for fixing the responsibility for the disaster,” he said.

Siddique requested the LHC to order the government departments to explain why they could not control the fire and save the lives.

“Thirteen citizens have lost their lives. The liability in this regard may be fixed in accordance with law. All those who have failed to perform their duties must be identified,” he requested the court.



Siddique requested the court to take penal action against the officials found directly or indirectly responsible for the tragedy.

Siddique has named the National Disaster Management Authority, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority, the government, the home minister, the Lahore Development Authority, the district coordination officer, the Walled City of Lahore Authority, the Health Department, the Water and Power Ministry, Rescue 1122, the inspector general of police, the capital city police officer, the Environment Protection Agency and the Anarkali SHO as respondents in the petition.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 1^st, 2015.