No further delays to be tolerated in smog case: CJP

–Seeks smog commission report on June 9

–Samples from Sargodha chemical factory to be tested

–Report deems chicken feed, meat fit for consumption

–Sexual harassment of women at PIMH noticed

LAHORE: The Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Saqib Nisar on Saturday showed his displeasure over the delay in the smog case and remarked that further delays will not be tolerated. He also directed the smog commission report to be presented before the apex court on June 9.

CJP, while heading the two-member bench hearing the case at Supreme Court’s Lahore Registry stated, “Further delay in the case will not be tolerated as it concerns our future generations”.

Smog commission chairperson Dr Parvez Hassan also appeared before the court, along with petitioners and officials of Punjab’s environment department.

‘SARGODHA CHEMICAL FACTORY WASTE TO BE TESTED’:

Resuming the hearing of the suo motu taken of pollution emitting from a chemical factory in Sargodha, the court directed the sample of chemical waste to be sent to PCSI and Punjab laboratories for further testing.

The court also summoned the Environmental Protection Agency Secretary Captain (r) Saif Anjum, who upon being asked about the steps taken by the environment department to curb pollution, shared that a committee has been formed to investigate the issue and a six-bed dispensary has been made in the area.

The committee will go to the site and attain samples on April 23, he informed the court.

‘SEXUAL HARASSMENT OF WOMEN AT PIMH NOTICED’:

CJP also took notice of sexual harassment of women at Punjab Institute of Mental Health (PIMH) during apex court’s proceedings in Lahore.

CJP formed a two-member commission, comprising Advocate Ayesha Hamid and Zafar Kalanauri to examine the overall situation at the hospital and submit a compliance report.

“It is not a medical facility, but a jail,” he observed. Moreover, he added, male staffers tend to female patients being treated at the hospital.

The chief justice also summoned a report from the provincial government on the appointment of the PIMH director.

‘CHICKEN MEAT FIT FOR CONSUMPTION’:

The top judge further expressed happiness over University of Health Sciences Vice-Chancellor (VC) Dr Faisal Masood’s report regarding the suo moto taken of the poultry feed and chicken meat.

According to the report, the chicken meat and the poultry feed were deemed fit to be consumed and the germs found in the chicken claws were normal.

The CJP told  Dr Faisal Masood that the court was grateful to him for preparing the comprehensive report by going to every shop and store and wrapping the matter up at the earliest.

While wrapping up the proceedings in the suo moto case, the court said, in its remarks, it was a good thing that issues were resolved in a suo motu case and hoped that the people from the railway department wouldn’t mind that the courts were interfering in their affairs.

In another suo motu, the court adjourned the hearing for a week to give time for gathering suggestions and ideas on how to improve the current state of hospitals. During the hearing of quack doctors and action against them, some fake doctors managed to enter court premises.

The top judge expressed frustration on this and hinted to lock all of them up and ordered them to leave the court. “People who play with the lives of other people were not deserving of any leniency,” he added.