Don’t use rude words for special persons: CJ

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court Tuesday ordered the Punjab government to remove irritating words of disabled, deaf, mute and blind from “The Disabled Persons (Employment and Rehabilitation) Ordinance 1981.”

Chief Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah was hearing a public interest petition challenging the title of the ordinance and the offensive words appeared in the law. The petitioner-lawyer argued use of such offensive words amounted to hurt the dignity of the persons with special needs; therefore, they should be deleted from the ordinance.

He stated that word “disabled” had been used 43 times in the impugned ordinance while the words of blind, deaf and mute, physically handicapped and mentally retarded had been used for once to describe differently disabled persons. He argued that the scheme of the statute would not be disturbed if the court struck down the offensive words appeared in the impugned ordinance.

The lawyer referred to three judgments of Indian Supreme Court to establish power of the high court to strike down the offensive words from a piece of legislation. The government’s counsel did not oppose the petition, however, he urged the court to let the government amend the ordinance instead of issuing a direct order for the deletion of the objectionable words.

However, the chief justice observed that the persons with disabilities should be given a special importance in the law. He allowed the petition and directed the government to delete the offensive words from the title and the text of the impugned ordinance.

Plea referred to CJ: A Lahore High Court division bench Tuesday referred a matter to Chief Justice for formation of larger bench on an appeal against trial court’s order to decline summoning of former PM Nawaz Sharif, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, law minister Rana Sana Ullah and others as accused in Model Town killings case.

The bench headed by Justice Sadaqat Ali Khan took up the appeal moved by Jawad Hamid of Pakistan Awami Tehreek against decision of Anti-Terrorism Court under which 12 accused, including Nawaz Sharif, Shahbaz Sharif and Rana Sana Ullah were excluded from the case.

The petitioner stated that the trial court did not render justice by excluding the main suspects in the case. He requested the court to set aside the decision. After hearing arguments of the petitioner’s counsel, the bench sent the matter to the Chief Justice and suggested formation of larger bench on the matter.

A trial court last year excluded 12 respondents, however, directed the former IGP Mushtaq Sukhera, police officials and officials of other departments to appear before the court in the matter.

Fourteen people died and 85 others got injured when clash erupted between police and PAT workers in 2014. bail granted: A Lahore High Court division bench on Tuesday granted bail to former secretary of Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) Ameer Khan in Rs985 million corruption reference made by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

Advocate Saiful Mulook appeared on behalf of Khan and argued that charges against his client were fabricated and based on hearsay. He said the petitioner had been subjected to political victimisation as the bureau failed to produce any concrete evidence to establish the charges. The counsel asked the bench to release the petition on bail as he was ready to furnish bail bonds for the satisfaction of the trial court. The bench headed by Justice Ali Baqar Najafi allowed the petition and granted bail to Ameer Khan against surety bonds of Rs500,000.