August 26, 2003	Tuesday	Jumadi-us-Sani 27, 1424

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ISLAMABAD, Aug 25: The Supreme Court was approached on Monday by a resident of Karachi for the appointment of an independent inquiry commission with the mandate to fix responsibility for the disaster and also pay compensation to the persons affected by the spillage from the grounded ship, Tasman Spirit on the Karachi coast.

Dr Amjad H. Bokhari, an advocate, in his constitutional petition, filed in the Supreme Court under its direct jurisdiction, contended that the federal and Sindh governments failed to discharge their duties.

The petitioner, has impleaded the Federation of Pakistan, Government of Sindh, Karachi Port Trust, Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency, Chief of Maritime Security Agency, Directorate of Ports and Shipping Ministry of Communication and Pakistan National Shipping Corporation as respondents.

The petitioner stated that the breaking up of Tasman Spirit at the mouth of Keamari channel, has caused monumental and irreparable loss to the property, lives, marine life and environment.

The petitioner stated that it all happened due to negligence of the departments concerned, which first allowed a decrepit ship to enter into Pakistani waters and when it ran aground, the officials did not move at the required speed and were not prepared to cope with the situation.

He prayed to the court to direct the respondents to appoint inquiry commission pay losses caused to the affected victims.