LHC rejects govt’s reply in workers layoff case

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court Chief Justice Muhammad Qasim Khan Thursday rejected a reply by the Punjab government calling it dissatisfactory to a petition questioning lay-offs of workers in industrial sector during the coronavirus related lockdown in the province.

The chief justice observed that the government’s reply was incomplete and lacked basic information. He directed a law officer to submit a detailed reply also containing steps taken for protection of the low income citizens and labourers.

CJ Khan also ordered the petitioner to submit a list of the workers of the industrial sector who lost their jobs due to the lockdown. Advocate Ishtiaq Ahmad Chaudhry had filed a public interest petition saying the sudden imposition of the pandemic lockdown caused immense suffering due to loss of employment and lack of food.

He said the workers had been affected the most as their livelihood had been blocked due to the lay-offs at large scale. He asked the court to suspend all terminations, resignations from service received by employers whether oral or written and salary cuts in the industrial sector. He requested the court to order the government to ensure fair distribution of funds allocated for the workers in order to compensate their losses.