KP CM’s public smoking objected

ISLAMABAD: An NGO, The Network, for consumer protection has written a letter to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervaiz Khattak, drawing his attention that smoking publicly is a violation of Section 5 of the Tobacco Control Law.
The law prohibits any form of smoking in public places or government offices, the letter states, referring to television footage showing the chief minister smoking in his office and in the presence of the IG Police.
The letter points out that the chief minister has not only violated the law, but has done so right under the nose of the IG Police of the province, who is supposed to be responsible for imposition of the Prevention of Smoking and Protection of Non-Smoking Ordinance 2002.
“This act not only speaks volumes about CM’s indifference to the laws of the land but also sends a wrong message to youngsters who are generally attracted to and emulate TV footages of public figures,” executive coordinator of TheNetowork Nadeem Iqbal stated in a press release. “We regret this act by the CM, who represents highest public office in the province,” the letter states.
“At a time when the federal government is resisting all types of tactics and pressure from the tobacco industry and cigarette companies, and is moving in the right direction with its decision to adopt enhanced (85%) pictorial health warnings on cigarette packs, such footage only serves the cause of tobacco industry,” says the letter.
In the past, TheNetwork has pro-actively reacted to similar incidents of public figures smoking in public. A couple of years ago, the then governor of Balochistan Nawab Zulfiqar Magsi was seen smoking publicly. Responding to a letter sent to him, he expressed his regret and promised not to smoke in public places again. More importantly, he remained true to his promise.
Similarly, the education minister of Sindh Nisar Khoro was also spotted smoking in a school’s award-giving ceremony. He too gave a positive response.