PESHAWAR: A two-member bench of the Peshawar High Court on Thursday admitted for full hearing a writ petition filed against presence of a large number of rats in the provincial capital and sought comments from different officials, including the provincial health secretary, Peshawar deputy commissioner and sanitation authorities.

The bench comprising Justice Yahya Afridi and Justice Waqar Ahmad Seth held preliminary hearing in the petition filed by a citizen, Dr Hussain Ahmad Haroon, who requested the court to order the relevant authorities to clean the provincial capital of these rats, which were of the size of cats.

The petitioner stated that a child was recently killed after being bitten by a rat whereas several other persons had so far received injuries after being attacked by these rats.

Advocate Mian Saifullah Kakakhel appeared for the petitioner and contended that these rats had been roaming around in different parts of the provincial capital, including hospitals. He stated that these rats had become a threat to human lives, but the authorities concerned had turned a blind eye towards the problem.

He also submitted copies of news items and stated that media had regularly been carrying stories to highlight the issue. He said that the killing of a minor boy near Warsak Road was negligence on part of the authorities for which FIR might be registered against the officials.

The Water and Sanitation Services Peshawar, Peshawar deputy commissioner, provincial health secretary and director general health services are respondents in the petition.

Published in Dawn, March 11th, 2016