The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Friday issued contempt of court notices to the in-charge and project director of the National Forensic Science Agency (NFSA) for their failure to submit a report regarding the progress being made towards preparing reports of DNA tests conducted on the unidentified bodies of the Baldia factory fire incident within two weeks.
The court was hearing an application filed by the Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research (Piler), seeking compliance with the court directive of March 12 last year that ordered the chief secretary to conduct DNA tests on the unidentified bodies prior to their burial.
The petition was filed for the constitution of a judicial commission to fix the responsibility on the people responsible for the fire incident at the Ali Enterprises which claimed the lives of 259 people on September 11, 2012, and to suggest monetary compensation for the legal heirs of the victims.
The division bench headed by SHC Chief Justice Maqbool Baqar took exception to the non-filing of report by the NFSA officials and directed them to file the report along with the explanation by October 17.
The counsel for Ali Enterprises owners Abdul Aziz, Abdul Aziz and Shahid Aziz sought time to file comments on the application seeking transfer of the investigation officer and expeditious trial of the case.
Applicant’s counsel Faisal Siddiqui submitted the investigation officer of the case, Jahanzeb Khan, was delaying the proceedings, alleging that the IO was favouring the accused people and despite the lapse of two years even charges had not been framed against the accused.
He asked the court to direct the Sindh Home Department and the IGP to appoint a senior investigation officer with the permission of the court and direct the trial court to conclude the trial proceedings within six months.
Regarding the payment of compensation to the legal heirs of the victims, the court directed the Workers Welfare Fund secretary to release Rs129.5 million to the Workers Welfare Board for distribution among the victims' families within a week, observing that in case of non-compliance, contempt proceedings would be initiated against him.
The high court also issued a contempt of court notice to the chairman of the Employees Old-Age Benefits Institution for not filing a statement regarding the non-payment of compensation to the legal heirs of 255 victims.
Saturday 27 September 2014
http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-4-275166-Forensic-agency-issued-with-contempt-notice-for-delaying-DNA-reports
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