26 October 2004	Tuesday	11 Ramazan 1425

KARACHI, Oct 25: Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad on Monday reviewed the existing laws against encroachment and traffic accidents and issued orders to improve certain laws to ensure possible action against violators.

He called for making these laws more effective and result-oriented through necessary changes. HE asked the Sindh advocate-general and the law secretary for taking steps in this direction.

The governor was presiding over a meeting in the Governor's House on Monday held to review the issue of encroachments and complaints against traffic accidents.

Sindh Adviser on Local Bodies Waseem Akhtar, Principal Secretary Brig Akhtar Zamin, Senior Member Board of Revenue Mirza Karim Baig, Additional Chief Secretary for Local Bodies Salim Khan, Advocate-General Anwer Mansoor Khan, Additional Advocate-General Kazi Khalid Ali, IG Syed Kamal Shah, Shafiqur Rehman Paracha, Law Secretary Ghulam Nabi Shah, DCO Mir Husain Ali, City Police Chief Tariq Jameel and other officials attended the meeting.

The meeting discussed the Sindh Public Property Removal Act 1975. The governor while reviewing different clauses of the act emphasized the need for amendments to make it more effective.

He said the area police and the relevant department's officials would be held responsible if they failed to reclaim the land encroached upon.

Governor Ishratul Ibad also took serious notice of obstacles on roads, which caused traffic jams.

He urged action against people creating these hurdles and to ensure the restoration of traffic flow on such roads.

The meeting also discussed violation of traffic laws that caused traffic accidents and loss of lives.

The governor asked the meeting to ensure proper clauses of the law to impose fine on responsible drivers and owners and compensate parents of accident victims.

He said heavy fines on drivers and transport owners should be imposed to inculcate in them a sense of responsibility.

"In fact, there is no compensation for human lives, but irresponsible people should be punished according to law," the governor said. - PPI