LAHORE - The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday sought detailed report from the federal and Punjab governments on a petition seeking action over government’s failure to control measles outbreak and judicial inquiry to know the reasons behind the causalities.
A local lawyer moved the petition by contending that the Punjab in particular and rest of the areas in Pakistan in general had been caught by measles an acute, infectious and communicable viral disease causing deaths of a number of children.
He submitted such disease mostly occurs amongst children and was preventable if precautionary measures were taken by the authorities concerned before its outbreak.
The petitioner said that it was the responsibility of the state to provide the best possible health facilities to the citizens, particularly children, because they were future of the country. In present case, it was an open failure on part of the state machinery.
He requested the court to order for a judicial inquiry to unearth the reasons behind the deaths of children due to the measles.
The counsel requested the court to issue directions to the respondents federal and the Punjab government officials to control the frequent outbreak of the measles on war footing.
He also requested that respondents be directed to give a detailed and comprehensive report for the purpose of holding to account those responsible.
He prayed further that the appropriate directions might be given to the federal and provincial government to establish a permanent authority to prevent spread of such diseases, in view of recent deaths due to dengue, measles, drug reaction cases and others, including deaths in floods, earthquakes, glacier outbreak.
Justice Ijazul Ahsan recorded initial arguments and directed the federal and provincial governments to file a detailed report within two weeks.
The court also sought appearance of Attorney General for Pakistan and Punjab Advocate General on March 5 for assistance on the matter.
DISMISSED: The LHC dismissed a petition seeking ban on politicians holding dual nationality by observing that only allegations could not be considered at the time when general elections were near to hold.
The petition moved by Advocate Muhammad Afaq has been dismissed by Justice Nasir Saeed Sheikh.
On Tuesday, the petitioner-lawyer argued that loyalty of the politicians disqualified by the Supreme Court over the dual nationality was doubtful, and such elected persons were a burden on national exchequer.
The party leaders, office-bearers and parliamentarians who hold dual nationality did not fall in the criteria mentioned in article 62 and 63 of constitution, the lawyer maintained.
He pointed out that Tahirul Qadri, head of Pakistan Awami Tehrik, held nationality of Canada and his loyalties for Pakistan become suspicious therefore he could not be allowed to head any political party.
He requested the court to issue directions to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to restrain the politicians from contesting upcoming elections. He also requested the court to suspend the registration of the parities head by dual nationals.
Justice Nasir Saeed Sheikh heard the arguments and dismissed the petition by declaring it as non-maintainable.
The court also observed that only allegations against any politicians could not be considered.