The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Monday once again sought comments from the provincial police chief on a constitutional petition, seeking measures against the menace of Gutka, Mainpuri and other health-hazardous products.
Two months ago, the SHC had directed the Sindh Inspector General of Police to file his reply on the rejoinder of the petitioner, who alleged that gutka was being manufactured and sold openly in the city, especially in parts of the District West, under the patronage of police and officials of the provincial and city administrations.
The case was last heard by a two-judge bench before the court’s two-month vacations, when a two-judge bench had asked the IGP to file his comments on the rejoinder of the petitioner. Earlier, the petitioner had refused the claims of senior superintendent of police, District West, who had denied the manufacture and sale of gutka in the district.
In his rejoinder, the petitioner submitted that he had moved three applications to the District West police for taking action against the manufacture and sale of gutka in Surjani Town, Orangi Town, Baldia Town and other areas. “However, no action was taken against the menace and manufacturing units were openly operating in the whole district,” he added.
He prayed to the court to direct the respondents to take effective action against the culprits involved in running a gutka manufacturing factory at Ghazi Abad, Orangi Town Sector 11½. The petitioner also sought disciplinary action against the officials involved in patronising the menace in the city.
The SHC bench, headed by Justice Munib Akhtar, directed the IGP to file his reply on the petitioner’s petition by September 22. It may be noted that the curb on manufacture and sale of gutka and mainpuri seems to be still in jeopardy throughout the city despite the imposition of ban