KARACHI: HRCP shows concern over dug-up roads, accidents
By Our Staff Reporter
KARACHI, Nov 15: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has expressed serious concern over the in-action of the city government towards the plight of dug-up roads, as 550 persons have been killed in 957 road accidents since January this year.
In addition there is no official account of the deaths occurred due to the supply of contaminated water in various parts of the city.
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, HRCP Secretary General Iqbal Haider referring to a survey conducted by an NGO said that there were at least 3,000 open gutters and storm drains in the city posing an obvious threat to the lives of citizens.
The parents of two such children, who died when their cab fell into open drain at Abul Hasan Ispahani Road, were also present during the press conference. Their mother, Shehla Raza, narrated the whole incident in which she lost both her children.
Ghulam Qadir, father of the two children, called upon the government for an immediate repair of the open manholes and storm drains so that such accidents might not reoccur.
He said that instead of arresting the taxi driver and owner of the cab, road contractor and engineer should be arrested. He said that there was not fault of the taxi driver in the accident, as he was not at all over-speeding.
Ghulam Qadir pointed out that Abul Hasan Ispahani Road had been dug up for the last 11 months. The project had been assigned to a contractor who was already busy in several other development projects and least pushed to wind up the work at Ispahani Road, he added.
He said: “We read in the newspaper that the governor had directed the city nazim to investigate into the accident, but the nazim constituted a committee which included the engineer and the contractor of the road. How can one expect justice from such a committee?” Ghulam Qadir remarked.
“For a start, the nazim should have asked his sector in-charge about the fateful incident, as he was actively helping us out,” he said.
He recalled that an elderly woman had died while crossing the road and three trucks had fallen into the same open drain at Abul Hasan Isphani Road, but, no concrete step had been taken yet.
Referring to another recent incident, HRCP Secretary General Iqbal Haider said that three Hindu girls Reena, 21, Reema, 17 and Osha, 19, daughter of Sanno Amra left their house on October 18.
After facing a lot of hardships, father of the three girls managed to lodge an FIR 144/05 at the Frere police station, nominating Abid, Jehanzeb and Faisal residents of the same locality of Delhi Colony.
During investigation, police declared all the three suspects as innocent and informed him that all the three girls had changed their religion. He also handed over copies of affidavit duly attested by justice of peace dated October 18, as well as the certificates of the Binnori Town mufti regarding embracing Islam, Mr Haider said.
The parents through police came to know that the three girls appeared before Judicial Magistrate IV South on Nov 2 and recorded their statement of 164CrPc.
According to the statement collected from the court, the girls stated that they had converted from Hindu religion to Islam and they did not want to go back to their parents. They had prayed the court that they may be allowed to stay at Madrassah Taleemul Quran, Manzoor Colony, for education and boarding. The court allowed the girls as prayed.
Iqbal Haider said that after discussing the matter with HRCP vice-chairperson, an application was filed in the court in which it was prayed that the parents be allowed to meet the girls in the madrasah.
Subsequently, the judicial magistrate passed an order on Nov 10 in which it was mentioned that it was right of the parents to meet the girls. At the same time, the Investigation Officer and SHO were directed to arrange the meeting in a peaceful manner. The madrassah administration was also directed for the meeting, initially in the presence of a lady teacher.
Sanno Amra, father of the girls who was present at the press conference, told the journalists that the meeting did not materialize in a peaceful atmosphere, as a lady teacher constantly interfered when he tried to talk to his daughters. The policemen who were assigned for the meeting also sided with the madrassah administration.
On Nov 12, the HRCP decided to file three applications in this connection, contempt of court orders; meeting of girls with parents before the court of law; and shifting of girls at a neutral place like Darul Aman, Edhi Centre or Panah.
The court may pass order on these applications on Nov 15 or 16, Mr Haider said.
KARACHI, Nov 15: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has expressed serious concern over the in-action of the city government towards the plight of dug-up roads, as 550 persons have been killed in 957 road accidents since January this year.
