LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Thursday dismissed petitions challenging the closure of brick kilns owing to prevailing spell of smog.

Several owners of the brick kilns pleaded in the petitions that the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) ordered shutting down their kilns on the pretext of causing air pollution.

Petitioners’ counsel argued the kilns closure was in sheer violation of the Constitution, which guaranteed the right to do lawful business. He stated the agency randomly shut down brick kilns of the petitioners on the pretext of causing smog. He said no survey had been carried out before shutting down the kilns.

The counsel asked the court to strike down the EPA decision and allow the petitioners to resume working of their kilns in order to protect their fundamental rights. However, the court dismissed the petitions for being not maintainable.

Another court disposed of several identical petitions moved by brick kiln owners directing the petitioners to approach the EPA for the redressal of their grievance.

Published in Dawn, November 9th, 2018