ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court Thursday issued notice to Chief Explosive Officer of Ministry of Industries in a suo-motu case regarding the sad incident of Gujrat where about 18 school children were burnt to death after their van caught fire.
A three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Ijaz Ahmed Chaudhry and Justice Gulzar Ahmed resumed hearing of the case. During the course of proceeding, the bench was informed that the maintenance of CNG kits and its checking was the responsibility of Explosive Department of Ministry of Industries.
Afnan Karim Kundi, counsel for Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) appeared before the bench and gave certain provisions of law describing the responsibilities and duties of OGRA and other departments.
He accepted that the incident occurred due to negligence but on the other side, he rejected the notion that OGRA was responsible for that negligence.
When the bench asked Kundi to narrate the relevant provisions of law under which OGRA should be given a clean chit in the case, Kundi expressed his inability to do so stating that no such detailed rules had been laid down in the Ministry of Petroleum on the issue.
The Chief Justice expressed amazement that such an important ministry did not have rules to follow in order to provide such tragic incidents in future.
Saeed Ahmed Khan, Chairman OGRA apprised to the court that the Punjab Forensic Laboratory had released its report on the incident which was mis-guiding.
He maintained that report stated that the incident occurred due to the leakage of gas which was altogether wrong as there was CNG holiday in the whole area from the last three days.
Justice Gulzar inquired that the OGRA had highly paid management then why don't they take proper work from them regarding the technical competence from them.
The Chief Justice remarked that no one was ready to take responsibility of the incident where over a dozen of school children lost their lives.
The CJ inquired whether any official from Ministry of Petroleum or OGRA visited any of the aggrieved families of the incident.
The Chairman OGRA replied that a technical team of OGRA visited the place of the incident and also visited many homes of the affectees.
When the bench asked Kundi to lay down the provisions of law for the maintenance of vehicles or CNG kits, he sought time from the court.
The court while issuing notice to the Chief Explosive Officer of Ministry of Industries adjourned further hearing of the case till June 13.
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