LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Tuesday sought replies from the Ministry of Industries and the provincial transport secretary on a public interest petition seeking installation of safety equipment in small cars.

Justice Ajmal Zahid heard the petition filed in 2019 by a non-governmental organisation, alleging that car manufacturers sell vehicles in Pakistan without adequate safety features, such as airbags that open in case of a crash.

The petition was filed following the death of a son of former federal minister Qamar Zaman Kaira in a road accident. It claims the airbags of the car involved in the accident did not open, adding that many similar deaths go unrecorded.

On Tuesday, Advocate Safdar Shaheen Pirzada argued on behalf of the petitioner that most Pakistani cars lack airbags and rear seat belts.

He pointed out that the respondents had failed to furnish their replies during the last seven years despite the issuance of court notices.

He asked the court to direct the respondents to submit a detailed report on accidents where safety features, such as airbags, were compromised and to pay compensation to the heirs of the victims.

He further urged the court to order the two main car manufacturers of the country to ensure the provision of safety features in the vehicles at their own cost.

The judge adjourned the hearing for two weeks and directed that responsible officers of the respondents should appear, along with their reports.

The respondents are the federation through the Engineering Development Board, Punjab government, Punjab transport secretary, inspector general of police and the two car manufacturing companies.

remand extended: A judicial magistrate on Tuesday granted the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) a further two-day physical remand of two suspects in a case of Rs35 billion fraud allegedly involving the online sale of counterfeit US postage stamps.

The prime suspect, identified as a 33-year-old resident of Khanewal, has been charged by a Florida jury with defrauding the United States Postal Service (USPS) of $126 million, the US Attorney’s Office of the Southern District of Florida had said on Sept 28.

The Lahore NCCIA had announced the prime suspect’s arrest in late October, and he was sent on a five-day physical remand on Oct 21.

It is the third extension in the physical remand for the prime suspect, and second for the co-suspect.

On Tuesday, the NCCIA produced both men before Judicial Magistrate Naeem Wattoo upon the expiry of their four-day remand.

The investigating officer (IO) sought custody of the suspects for another five days for interrogation.

However, the magistrate granted the agency two more days of physical custody and directed the IO to produce the suspects again on Nov 5.

According to the NCCIA, the initial investigation revealed that the prime suspect operated a website to market and sell over 5m fake US postage stamps over a period of more than three years.

According to the US Department of Justice, the website run by the Pakistani national was not authorised to sell USPS products and services.

The counterfeit labels allegedly allowed customers to ship packages at rates “far below legitimate USPS prices”, it said, adding that it caused losses exceeding $126m to the postal service.

Published in Dawn, November 4th, 2026