September 29, 2006	Friday	Ramazan 5, 1427

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ISLAMABAD, Sept 28: It has been more than three years when the law banning smoking at public places was enacted, but it was enforced for the first time on September 4 earlier this month when Islamabad traffic police fined a public transport vehicle driver for flouting the ban.

This was stated in a statement issued by TheNetwork for Consumers Rights here on Thursday.

The Prohibition of Smoking in Enclosed Places and Protection of Non-smokers’ Health Ordinance was promulgated and enacted on June 30, 2003, but it is yet to be implemented in other parts of the country due to numerous complications and the lack of powers with police to fine violators, the statement said.

Those accused of violating the ban on smoking at public places have to be taken to the court of a magistrate first where they could be fined if found guilty. The involvement of courts in the matter has scared away public from filing complaints as it involves money and time.

Islamabad traffic police issued a ticket of Rs600 to Raja Aamir, a driver of a public service vehicle (LZR-4499), plying between Islamabad and Rawalpindi, on the complaint of a commuter. According to the complaint, the driver kept on smoking despite repeated objections by commuters and also misbehaved with them.

The ordinance should be amended further to devise a mechanism for bringing the violators to book forthwith. Smoking in public transport should be clearly mentioned as a ‘traffic offence’, the statement said.

Presently, traffic police have to put this offence in ‘others’ category despite the law’s explicit mentioning that smoking in public transport is strictly prohibited, Saqib Sharif of TheNetwork said.

He said implementation mechanism for various provisions under the ordinance should be made easier so that the ordinance could serve the actual purpose it was designed for.