LHC seeks reply over illegal factories in residential areas

Posted on 8 months ago

Fida Hussnain
LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday issued notice to Punjab government and others to submit reply on petition seeking action against illegal factories in residential areas of Punjab.
Justice Ayesha A Malik of the LHC was hearing the case. The Judge turned down a request of petitioner who requested the court to immediately issue a stary order against all factories functioning in residential areas.
Justice Ayesha a Malik, however, turned down a request of petitioner who urged the court to immediately issue a stay order against functioning of factories in the residential areas.
The petition was moved by Pakistan Mazdoor Mahaz through advocate Ishtiaq Chaudhary and stated that large number of factories were being run in residential areas which totally illegal and unlawful. The petitioner said government completely failed to do any thing against these illegal factories. He said factories owners in addition violated all other related rules and regulations and quoted both incident recently took place in Karachi and Lahore.
The petitioner prayed to the court that Punjab government, Lahore Development Authority, Building Department and others to take action against all such illegal factories and should close them down in residential areas.
He further prayed that judicial inquiry should be held to fix responsibility of all fire incidents occurred in past and ensure punishment of responsible. The court will resume hearing on October 10.
Case registered against 40 students for storming into PS: Muslim Town police on Friday registered a case against 40 activists of a student organization on the charges of storming the Muslim Town police station and torching a passenger bus.
The sources in Muslim Town police said that no arrest had been made so far. Scores of students belonging to a student organization of Punjab University on Thursday had gathered on Wahdat Raod and marched towards Muslim Town police station. The angry students were protesting against non arrest of the killer (s) of Awais Aqeel, who was murdered in Punjab University a couple of months back. The protesters blocked the traffic and allegedly stormed Muslim Town police station. They allegedly tortured a few police officials as well. Police arrested the protesters but released them later on after negotiations. The protesters on the way back allegedly set a bus on fire.
DIG operations Rai Tahir on Thursday had announced to register a case against those involve in the incident.
LHC allows federal govt to be pro forma respondent: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday allowed federal government to be pro forma respondent in contempt of court case against President Asif Ali Zardari and adjourned further hearing till September 21. A full bench of the LHC headed by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial and comprising Justice Nasir Saeed Sheikh, Justice Najmul Hassan and Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan heard the case.
The bench observed that federal government cannot be party in the case, however, can hear and argue as pro forma respondent. The bench placed this order on a civil miscellaneous application filed by Waseem Sajjad a senior advocate representing the federal government.
Waseem Sajjad told the court that federal government was party in dual office case against the president but in contempt of court case it was not made party. He said president is symbol of unity and integrity and also the part of parliament, so federation should be allowed to be party in the case. Upon which the petitioner counsel A K Dogar contended under article 248 A of the constitution there was no immunity to president in criminal proceedings.
In cross argument, Waseem Sajjad said if petition can be filed against president federation also can become party. He pointed out this case was of important nature and there will be great repercussions, so federation should be allowed to be party in the case. Attorney General said it was very sensitive issue and very important case. He requested the court to stop hearing of the case. There were identical matters on which short orders were placed and detailed orders were not given yet, AG said. He said the hearing should be stopped until the detailed orders.
On this point, the petitioner counsel A K Dogar said that respondent counsels were using delaying tactics and intentionally delaying the case. He said President Asif Ali Zardari intentionally and willfully violated the court orders and did not relinquish himself from the political activities.
Muhammad Azhar Siddique who was also there on behalf of the petitioner advocate Munir Ahmad. Quoting the example of former Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani Azhar said court did not convict PM, it convicted Yousaf Raza Gilani as an individual who defied the court orders. He requested the court that federation should not be made party in the case. He pointed out that except of President Zardari no one can be party in this case.
After hearing the arguments of both parties, the bench allowed federal government to be performa respondent in the case and observed that it cannot be party in the case. The court adjourned hearing till September 21. Federal government on Thursday filed a civil miscellaneous application in the Lahore High Court (LHC) to become party in a contempt case against President Asif Ali Zardari.
Contempt petition was filed by advocate Munir Ahmad through the counsel of advocate Muhammad Azhar Siddique. He said that the president committed contempt of court by not complying with the court order given earlier on May 12, 2011.
He said the President should be neutral and impartial and should disassociate himself from being co-chairman of any political party. He said despite court orders he did not relinquish himself from political activities, so contempt proceeding should be started against him.
Tauqeer Shah, Talha Barki's bail extended till Sep 21: Central Judge Farooq Altaf on Friday extended till September 21, interim-bail of former Punjab Chief Minister Principal Secretary Tauqeer Shah and Staff Officer Talha Barkiaccused of releasing fake intelligence reports about the murder plot of former LHC Chief Justice Khawaja Muhammad Shahrif.
As proceeding started, FIA officials produced all accused including Tauqeer Shah, Talha Barki, Col ® Ehsan, Shahid Mehmood, Constable Ijaz Ahmad and Constable Muhammad Azam produced before the court. They requested the court to extend interim bails of both accused Tauqeer Shah and Talha Barki.
Upon which the court extended their interim bail till September 21 and directed officials to produce them on the next due date.
FIA had registered the FIR against them on charges of issuing afalse intelligence report on murder plot of former LHC chief Justice Khwaja Sharif.
The agency accused them of hatching a conspiracy by managing issuance of a false intelligence report about the murder plot in a bid to create differences among the federal government, provincial government and judiciary.
LHC seeks reply from Interior Ministry in a 'Diyat' case: Lahore High Court (LHC) Justice Khalid Mehmood Khan on Friday sought reply from federal interior ministry who failed to do get Diyat (compensation) for a family for last 22 years.
The judge placed this order on petition filed by Perveen whose husband died in Saudi Arabia. She said her husband had died in Saudi Arabia in a traffic accident on August 21, 1990. The petitioner said under Saudi law legal heirs of deceased were awarded Diyat for accidental deaths. She said nine other persons were also killed in the said traffic accident and the families of all of them had got diyat money except her. She said she had filed an application to interior ministry 22 years ago but the officials had been delaying the matter on one or other pretext.
After hearing initial arguments, the court issued notice to respondent ministry and sought reply by October 3.
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