KARACHI: The Sindh High Court on Thursday directed Pakistan Bureau of Statistics to submit the minutes of the meeting of the Council of Common Interests scheduled to be held on March 24 about announcement of final result of census-2017.

When a two-judge bench headed by Justice Mohammad Ali Mazhar took up a set of petitions against the delimitation of local government boundaries in Sindh without publication of final result of census, director of PBS Shaukat Zaman was in attendance.

He informed the bench that the meeting of the CCI was due on March 24 and he would submit a progress report on the next hearing.

The bench directed the census section of the PBS to file the minutes of the meeting with regard to publication of final result of census till March 31.

Earlier, the bench was informed that the federal cabinet had constituted a committee for finalisation of census result and then the same would be sent to the CCI for approval and announcement.

Initially, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan had approached the SHC and challenged the constitution of committees for delimitation of local government jurisdiction in the province and contended that according to the Elections Act, 2017, the exercise of delimitation could not be carried out unless the final results of the population census were officially published. Later some other petitions were also filed on identical grounds.

Official tells court safety measures at Keenjhar Lake have been enhanced

The petitioners mainly relied on Section 17 of the Elections Act, 2017 in which the Election Commission of Pakistan shall delimit constituencies after every census officially published and in the same section powers have been given to the commission to delimit the territorial constituencies for elections to the National Assembly and each provincial assembly and to the local governments in accordance with the provision of the Constitution.

Keenjhar Lake safety

The same bench on Thursday directed the in-charge of Keenjhar Lake to file the final compliance report till April 14 and also asked the deputy commissioner and senior superintendent of police Thatta to ensure all safety measures for picnickers.

As the bench took up a petition seeking safety measures after drowning incidents in the lake, in-charge of lake Gulzar Ahmed contended that all orders of the bench had been complied with.

He submitted that three jetties had been built, one watchtower was also completed and another was under construction, 60 boats had been registered and 36 closed-circuit television cameras installed.

He further said strict compliance was being made to ensure that no person was allowed to board the boat without wearing lifejacket while rescue centre has all necessary equipment.

The bench noted that much compliance had already been made, but directed the in-charge of the lake to file the final report in writing on next hearing.

It also ordered the DC and the SSP concerned that they must ensure the compliance with regard to all safety measures for the public at large.

Published in Dawn, March 12th, 2021