Law to be amended to control illegal use of CNG kits, cylinders in vehicles, school vans.

KARACHI -- The Sindh High Court on Friday directed the chief secretary of Sindh to constitute a committee with terms of reference within 10 days to recommend amendments to the law to empower transport department to control unauthorised use of CNG kits and cylinders in public transport vehicles and school vans.

The two-judge bench headed by Justice Mohammad Ali Mazhar also ruled that the proposed committee will forward its proposals to the cabinet within one month from the date of its notification.

In the last hearing, the additional advocate general had submitted a copy of the summary for cabinet approval of both drafts bills of the Sindh CNG Kit Cylinder Fitness Authority and the Motor Vehicles (amendments) Ordinance, adding that both bills were vetted by the law department and submitted to the chief minister, who had also approved them.

When a set of identical petitions about use of substandard CNG kits and cylinders in commercial vehicles as well as school vans came up for hearing on Friday, additional advocate general Jawaid Dero submitted that the provincial cabinet had considered both the draft bills.

The cabinet was of the view that instead of making separate legislation, it was proper to confer powers to the transport department to control the unauthorised CNG kits and cylinders in vehicles after making amendments to the Motor Vehicles Ordinance, the AAG added.

He further submitted that the cabinet also advised the chief minister to constitute a committee to suggest such amendments.

A representative of transport department informed the bench that the committee had not been notified yet.

The petitioners had agreed that necessary amendments be made to the Motor Vehicles Ordinance to control unauthorised use of CNG kits and cylinders and requested that they may be allowed to submit suggestions in writing to the proposed committee for consideration.

The bench said that the petitioners and their counsel may submit their written suggestions to the proposed committee through the AAG and adjourned the matter till Jan 28.

Traffic police 'taking bribes'

Advocates Muzammil Mumtaz, Tariq Mansoor and others had moved the SHC and contended that substandard CNG cylinders were being used in the public transport vehicles as well as in school vans despite directions of the court and no action was being taken against such vehicles.

Impleading the home secretary, transport secretary, DIG traffic, Ogra and others as respondents, they asked the court to...