LHC orders private offices to work from home for two days

LAHORE: Lahore High Court judge Justice Shahid Karim, while hearing the anti-smog measures case, ordered private offices to work from home for two days in a week.

The court remarked, “If government offices can work from home for two days, they should do it too. The polluting industries should not be de-sealed until the Environment Commission is satisfied”.

Further hearing will be held on December 19.The court observed the government targets business community to hide its incompetence, it ignored court orders. Notification of work from home should be issued, the court ordered.

Member Environment Commission told the court, “We try one step forward, they take 10 steps back”. The Commission had sent a letter to PDMA regarding smog breath app. It sent the matter to Punjab Information Board, the Commission member said.

The member said they had written letter as per court’s orders. “I have seen the entire PDMA system, it is not doing anything”, the member told the court.

The court observed Punjab Information Technology Board was still doing something. Environment Commission member said Environment Department was sitting idly.

They had asked the Environment Department to give copies of the challans, but they did not provide. “There is also a discrepancy regarding the challans of Environment Department. Only those units have been sealed they were permitted to seal”, the member said.

On the inquiry of the court, Environmental Commission member said 37 out of 114 units had been de-sealed. “A unit has been sealed 12 times”, the member told the court. Member Commission said there was news Ching Chi rickshaws were being legalised. “Ching Chi rickshaws that do not meet the legal requirements are being closed”, the member said.

The court observed the transporters were looking into the matter, the technology should be upgraded.Lawyer Ali Sufian Faiz said the cafes observing timings were being closed without notice. On court’s inquiry, he said, “If any cafe does not abide by the time, it should be permanently sealed”. The judge said he would order the DIG to arrest those de-selling the cafes.

The court asked Environmental Commission member whether the affidavits of those that were sealed had been received. The member replied affidavits were not received. The court ordered the owners of the cafes to submit affidavits by Tuesday. “No one was told to close the business. One who works according to the given requirements will not be questioned”, the court remarked.

Counsel for LDA said 15 cafes were opened despite being sealed. The court order was that there would be no de-sealing without a court order, he said.The court asked who was representing these cafes. Why were they sealed? The counsel for LDA said they were not implementing the SOPs.

The counsel for cafes said they were closed before 10pm. “We have independent reports. If you do this, we will seal them forever”, the judge said. Counsel for cafes said, “If you ban us forever, we will leave the country”.The judge said, “Go, are you threatening me? You go and give an affidavit”.