Govt lawyer seeks time on Pasban files petition against Keamari gas tragedy.

KARACHI -- The government lawyer here Thursday sought time on a constitutional petition of Pasban Democratic Party (PDP) seeking justice for victims of Keamari gas release tragedy and compensation for affected families.Pasban Democratic Party (PDP) through its chairman Altaf Shakoor here Monday filed a constitutional petition in Sindh High Court (SHC) requesting lodging of FIRs against those responsible for loss of human lives due to release of poisonous gas in Keamari area.On Thursday a bench of Sindh High Court comprising Justice Muhammad Iqbal Kalhoro and Justice Irshad Ali resumed hearing of the petition.

Advocate General, Attorney General and KPT lawyer appeared before the court. However, the government side sought more time and the court instructed them to file their comments by April 08, and adjourned the hearing till the 8th April.It may be noted that PDP chairman Altaf Shakoor in his petition held through Advocate Aziz Irfan had made Federation Of Pakistan, through the Principal Secretary; the federal minister for ports and shipping through Secretary, Ministry of Ports and Shipping; Chairman Karachi Port Trust; M.V. Hercules through the Chairman KPT; Province of Sindh, through Chief Secretary; Inspector General of Sindh Police, Director General Sindh Environmental Protection Agency, Commissioner Karachi Division, Registrar Karachi University, and Director, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center (JPMC) respondent maintained that many people including women, children and elderly persons died and fell ill due to negligence, carelessness, slackness without the aid and intervention and preventive measures by the respondents federal minister for ports and shipping, and chairman KPT.He said the affected people of the area became so afraid that they left their homes and shifted to other places due to the sheer negligence of the respondents who did not respond and failed to help these citizens of Pakistan. He said the affected families demand removal of federal minister for ports and shipping and chairman of KPT. They also demand compensation and relief to the affected families.The petitioner further maintained that the arrangement of off-loading of soybean is normally carried out at the Port Qasim, but the federal minster and KPT chairman gave permission and NoC to the Vessel M.V. Hercules for...