Officials were summoned for the Super Highway accident that claimed 62 lives. PHOTO: INP
A division bench, headed by Justice Sajjad Ali Shah, also ordered the transport and health department officials to appear in person on February 17. The bench was hearing a constitutional petition based on a letter addressed to SHC chief justice Maqbool Baqar for ordering a judicial probe into the tragic accident.
Khalid H Abbasi said his brother, advocate Muhammed Yasin Ahmeddin, was also travelling with his family when the bus was hit by a truck owned by the National Logistics Cell. He said there were fire tenders of Pakistan Steel Mills near the accident site but the mill administration declined to help.
He claimed that there is an acute shortage of fire tenders but the relevant laws have not been updated by the provincial government. A fire station at the nearby Bhains Colony remains open from 9am to 5pm, he added.
He had requested the court order a judicial inquiry into the matter and take action against the officials of the National Highway Authority (NHA) and others for their grave negligence. He had also claimed that the victims' families were waiting for the bodies of their loved ones but the matter was being delayed due to DNA testing.
The court was requested to direct the NHA officials, the provincial government and Karachi Metropolitan Corporation to explain as to why the tragic incident occurred and why no measures were taken to save the victims. A direction was also sought for the authorities to pay reasonable compensation.
On Tuesday, a provincial law officer requested for time to file comments on behalf of the relevant provincial authorities. This irritated the judges, who noted that comments were not filed despite issuance of notices to the officials.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 4th, 2015.
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