LAHORE: A writ petition has been filed in the Lahore High Court seeking compensation for the damage caused to public and private properties during the countrywide protest by the Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) against release of Aasia Bibi in a blasphemy case.

Abdullah Malik of the Civil Society Network arrayed federal and provincial governments as party in his petition. He pleads that protection of people’s life and property is a responsibility of the government and a great damage has been done to the public and private property during the TLP protests.

He says the government is duty-bound to compensate the losses of the citizens.

The petitioner asks the court to order both the federal and provincial governments to determine the losses and pay compensation to the citizens.

SMOG: A petition has been filed in the Lahore High Court seeking a direction for the government authorities to take immediate steps to control smog in Punjab.

A citizen, Munir Ahmad, contends through his counsel that Lahore is among the 10 most polluted cities in the world in terms of air quality. He states that air pollution causes serious health problems, including respiratory issues, lung and heart diseases.

He pleads that the smog has become a perennial problem for the residents of Lahore.

The petitioner claims that data released by the Pakistan Air Quality Initiative shows the provincial capital recorded only two days of good air quality in 2017.

He asks the court to direct the government to implement the statutory laws as well as mandatory rules in letter and spirit for the purpose of protecting environment.

He further asks the court to order necessary amendments in the laws to enable the government departments to deal with emergency situations.

Published in Dawn, November 4th, 2018