December 24, 2006	Sunday	Zilhaj 02, 1427

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LAHORE, Dec 23: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Saturday directed the Punjab and the city district government to ensure that gaseous glass is fixed in windowpanes of buses and other public transport as glass fitted in steel window panes can be dangerous for commuters in case of emergency.

Disposing of a writ petition, Justice Syed Zahid Husain also directed the authorities to amend the law to ensure that manufacturing and use of firecrackers was brought under a disciplinary regime.

The writ petition was filed by the Mohammad and Ahmad Law Associates through advocate Mohammad Azhar Siddiqui which sought the registration of criminal cases against the officers directly and indirectly responsible for a bus accident in December 2005 near Ghaziabad. The bus caught fire and firecrackers in it exploded thus leaving 25 passengers dead and 15 others injured.

The court noted that the involvement of nazims to trace firecrackers’ deposits would yield better results.

A government’s committee, set up by the LHC, recommended these measures in the course of the hearing of the writ petition, and the court adopted them as steps to minimise losses in road accidents and at wedding parties.

The court also directed authorities to expedite the construction of an overhead bridge at the railway level crossing in Mughalpura and observed the bridge would save hundreds from being stranded in traffic jams. The Pakistan Railways is planning the bridge which has been designed by the Punjab Public Works Department.

The court praised the measures taken by the Punjab government regarding disaster management, but observed that more needed to be done to ensure that the people enjoyed better facilities.

The court remarked that the enactment of the Punjab Emergency Act, the establishment of Rescue 1122, the promulgation of the Punjab Disaster

Management Ordinance, and the constitution of the Punjab Emergency Council under the chairmanship of the chief minister, all in the present year, were commendable measures.

The court also observed the government needed to improve road infrastructure, remove encroachments, construct overhead bridges and underpasses and ensure strict implementation of traffic rules. The court said it was concerned that ambulances and fire fighting vehicles were often seen stuck up in traffic although uninterrupted traffic was required for them under the law and social morality.

The court asked the city district government to improve fire fighting network and extend its facilities.

The court further noted with concern that the preparation of fire crackers and their use in wedding parties where aerial firing also took place was invariably ignored by the local police and this aspect must be taken care effectively.