LHC issues notices to DCO, censor board over screening of ‘Dirty Girl’

The Lahore High Court on Thursday issued notice to the district coordination officer (DCO) and the Pakistan Film Censor Board chairman on a petition challenging ban on movie ‘Dirty Girl’.
Justice Nasir Saeed Sheikh passed the orders on the petition moved by Qaiser Sanaullah, a cinema owner.
The petitioner’s counsel submitted that the Pakistan Film Censor Board earlier approved the movie. Following the approval, the movie was released on August 14, the counsel added.
Later, the board and city district government banned screening of the film due to which the producer of the movie had to bear loss worth millions of rupees. He requested the court to declare the ban illegal and unlawful.
The court admitted the petition for regular hearing and sought reply from DCO and chairman of the board for August 16 (today).

LHC takes notice of police torture: The Lahore High Court on Thursday took notice of the news published in a section of press that a hotel owner of Sargodha died in the custody of Lahore police due to alleged torture.
The district and sessions judge Lahore has been directed to probe the matter and submit a detailed report regarding steps taken by the local police along with his own comments.
According to details, police arrested Shaukat Bhatti, owner of a hotel on Fatima Jinnah Road, Sargodha over a payment transaction and tortured him to death. Police officials threw his body at District Headquarters Hospital Sargodha and escaped.
Family of the victim protested at the hospital and alleged that police kidnapped Shaukat illegally and killed him. Sargodha police are looking into the matter.
LHC Complaint Cell took serious notice of the episode and directed the concerned D&SJ to look into the matter and submit report within a week positively.

LHC adjourns hearing of suo motu case:
A division bench of the Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday adjourning the hearing of a suo motu case against inadequate arrangements for rainwater disposal in front of Supreme Court Lahore Registry building for four weeks sought details of long term projects.
The bench comprising Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani and Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed passed the directions while hearing the suo motu notice at SC Lahore Registry.
As proceedings started, Secretary Housing Waseem Mukhtar and Managing Director Water & Sanitation Ageny (WASA) appeared before the court and submitted a report.
Secretary Housing informed the court about efforts made for disposal of rainwater puddles in front of SC Lahore Registry Building.
He said that despite heavy rain yesterday, the rainwater accumulated in front of the Supreme Court building was drained. The bench adjourning matter for four weeks sought details of the long term projects.

LHC suspends transfer orders of chief engineer: The Lahore High Court on Thursday suspended transfer orders of chief engineer (Development), Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA).
Justice Ayesha A Malik passed the orders on a petition filed by Nasim Akhtar, Chief Engineer (Development), WAPDA against his transfer. The court also sought a reply from ministry of Water & Power and other respondents.
Earlier, the petitioner’s counsel Hafiz Tariq Naseem arguing the matter submitted that Nasim Akhtar, senior Superintending Engineer, was posted as Chief Engineer Development in WAPDA on current charge basis in March 2013.
Despite ban on transfer by government, junior Superintending Engineer Rao Zameeruddin was posted as Chief Engineer Development in place of petitioner on August 2, 2013, he added.
The counsel contended that the transfer order was not transparent but result of political pressure. He pleaded the court to set aside transfer orders of the petitioner being mala fide.
The court after hearing the arguments suspended the notification for transfer and sought reply from respondents.