LAHORE - The Lahore High Court has sought reply and para-wise comments from the Pakistan Railways General Manager and Chief Commercial Manager for increasing fares on luggage of passengers travelling by Samjhota Express and Thar Express trains. These orders were issued by Justice Ahmad Farooq Sheikh while hearing a petition filed by a passenger Kausar Shaheen challenging the cargo fares of Pakistan Railways on grounds that the fares were illegal and in violation of rules. The petitioner through her counsel submitted that the Railway was charging Rs 35 to 40 per kg against every luggage from the passengers of Samjhota and Thar trains. She said her relatives lived in India and thus she kept visiting them off and on travelling by Samjhota Express and Thar Express. She said previously the Railways used to charge Rs 2 to 3 per kg, but suddenly it increased its freight charges from 10 to 20 times. A notification was also issued in this regard, she added. She contended she was facing hardships in carrying even small quality of luggage now, due to the raise on the cargo fares through an unlawful notification, as the fares of the said two trains going across the border had only been raised. The petitioner pointed out that the Railways authorities were charging Rs 1 to 2 per kg on trading luggage, but on passengers articles it was charging Rs 30 to 70, which was an injustice. She requested the court to set aside the impugned notification and restrain the respondents from charging luggage fares on exorbitant rates. The court sought replies from the Railways authorities within two weeks. Suo moto against poisonous element in drinking water Taking suo moto notice of the presence of arsenic in drinking water, the Lahore High Court Chief Justice has summoned the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) Managing Director in the court for June 29. CJ Khawaja Sharif had taken the suo moto on a news item published in a local newspaper. According to the report, out of 392 as many as 352 tube-wells of WASA and LDA are pumping out arsenic-contaminated water, posing serious hazards to the citizens who drink the water. The CJ noted his order, Water is obviously a vital necessity of human being, the impurity of which is a great threat to the populace of metropolis especially the less privileged ones, who cannot afford bottled water. The courts are alive to the situation to see whether potable water is being supplied to the masses or not. By taking cognizance under Article 199(1)(c) of the Constitution I would like to know the actual facts for which purpose the WASA MD is directed to appear before this court on June 29 along with the complete record. The CJ directed that the Advocate General Punjab should ensure compliance of the order and appear before the court to assist in the matter. The CJ also directed the Additional Registrar (Judicial) to immediately transmit a copy of this oder to the Advocate General Punjab for compliance. The hearing of suo moto has been fixed at June 29 (today).