LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Thursday issued a notice to the Punjab Curriculum and Textbook Board chairman Muhammad Akram on a contempt petition, questioning his failure to not include a chapter on fundamental rights in the textbooks for primary and secondary schools.

Justice Ayesha A Malik in 2015 had directed the board’s chairman to hear the point of view of the petitioner and other stakeholders and consider the issue of inclusion of a chapter on the fundamental rights in the textbooks.

However, the petitioner’s counsel Sheraz Zaka told the court that despite a lapse of three and a half years the court order had not been complied with.

He submitted that the inclusion of fundamental rights chapter in the curriculum would create awareness among the youth and children about their rights, regretting that no effort had been made in this regard despite the court order issued to this effect on April 8, 2015.

He asked the court to issue a contempt notice to the board’s chairman and seek an explanation from him on the non-compliance of the order.

After hearing the arguments, Justice Malik issued a notice to the board chairman and directed him to file his reply by April 8.

FOOD WASTAGE: The Lahore High Court on Thursday issued notices to federal and the provincial governments on a petition seeking legislation against wastage of food.

Advocate Ahmad Pansota filed the petition contending that a huge quantity of food was wasted during marriage functions and other such events but there was no law in the country to check the practice.

He said the laws relating to preservation of food were available in other countries but no such law had been enacted in Pakistan.

He pointed out that neither the federal nor provincial government had initiated any step to prevent the food wastage. He said it was the constitutional obligation of the governments to provide food to every citizen and avoid its wastage.

He asked the court to direct the governments to make an effective law to check food wastage.

After hearing initial arguments, Justice Jawad Hassan issued notices to the federal and Punjab governments and sought their replies within a fortnight.

Published in Dawn, January 11th, 2019