Criminal negligence: SHC issues notices on highway tragedy

KARACHI:

The Sindh High Court (SHC) issued on Wednesday notices to the federal and provincial authorities on a petition seeking action against those responsible for the loss of over 60 lives in a road accident at Super Highway.

Headed by SHC chief justice Faisal Arab, the bench issued the notices, while restoring a petition that was earlier dismissed over non-prosecution.

Rana Faizul Hasan, the general secretary of the United Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, had requested the court to restore his plea, which was dismissed on the last date of hearing as he could not appear in court that day. Hasan had requested the court to call a report from the federal and provincial authorities regarding the head-on collision between the passenger bus and truck on January 11. He alleged that the loss of lives could have been averted, had the emergency and rescue services of the departments in Bhains Colony responded in time. He said that the officials responsible for negligence should be prosecuted under the law.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 23^rd, 2015.