LAHORE - Opposition leader in Punjab Assembly Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed yesterday filed a petition in Lahore High Court seeking inquiry into alleged irregularities in purchase of medicines at Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC).
Mr Rasheed filed the petition through his counsel Advocate Sheraz Zaka and said he would bring on record what level of corruption and malpractices of the provincial government were being done at PIC.
He pointed out that a private medical store had been awarded contract for bulk purchase of medicines and medical disposable items. However, the medical store was violating the terms and conditions of the contract and providing medicines to the PIC on double rates as compared with market price, he alleged.
The PTI leader further submitted that the medical store was committing the unlawful act in connivance of the government authorities concerned. The Public Accounts Committee was responsible to hold scrutiny of the public departments, however, the committee was non-functional since 2013, he added.
Rasheed pleaded that the court should order Chief Minister to hold inquiry into the corruption and stop sale of medicine against high rates. He also prayed to the court to order the government to present details of the contract of PIC concluded with the respondent medical store before the PAC for scrutiny.
dismissed: The Lahore High Court yesterday dismissed a petition against the imposition of Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) 1952, for Pakistan International Airline (PIA).
Justice Shahid Waheed held that the petitioner had no locus standi to file this petition as he was not a workers’ confederate to agitate the issue before a court of law. The judge also held that the petitioner did annex the impugned notification of imposition with his petition.
Advocate Ishtiaq Ahmad Chaudhary had filed the petition and pointed out that the federal government had approved Essential Services Maintenance Act 1952 for PIA. He submitted that the Prime Minister enforced the act after signing a summary of the aviation division to this effect. He requested to set aside the approval of this act for PIA employees.
PILOT CASE: Meanwhile on Monday, the LHC sought complete record of the case lodges against Asmat Mahmood a pilot of Shaheen Airline facing charges of crash-landing under the influence of liquor.
The court passed order on bail petition of the accused and adjourned further hearing for two weeks.
The Sarwar Road police had arrested Asmat Mehmood for allegedly crash-landing at Allama Iqbal International Airport on November 3 allegedly under the influence of liquor. A special anti-terrorism court on December 4 had rejected bail petition of Asmat Mehmood.
In another case, the LHC directed Punjab government, Inspector General Police, Punjab and other authorities to submit replies in a petition seeking mechanism of a thorough investigation before registration of any First Information Report (FIR) by the police.
In a petition filed through Advocate Rizwan Gill, the petitioner pointed out that the police often registered FIRs prior investigation of incidents/matters which was violation of fundamental rights and the Constitution.
He said police also lacked a mechanism of holding complete investigation of a matter before registering an FIR of an incident. Thus, the innocent citizens indulged into troubles, he argued.
The petitioner also submitted that in many cases, the suspects were declared as innocents after police thoroughly investigated matters. He prayed to the court to order the government to amend the law and provide a proper mechanism to investigate matters.
After hearing arguments, Justice Anwarul Haq issued notice to the Punjab government, IGP and others to submit replies. Further hearing adjourned for two weeks.