ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court Thursday reserved judgment in a suo-moto case regarding the tragic incident of Gujrat where 17 children lost their lives when their school van caught fire.
The case was heard by a three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Ijaz Ahmed Chaudhry and Justice Gulzar Ahmed.
During the course of proceeding, counsels for Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA), Motor Vehicle Examiner, District Police Officer Gujrat, SHO Gujrat and Chief Explosive Inspector appeared before the court.
Chief Explosive Inspector Muhammad Hussain apprised the court that he did not carried out inspection of the said vehicle but his sub-ordinate did so.
He claimed that the whole responsibility lies on the shoulders of OGRA as fitting of CNG kit was a responsibility of OGRA and not the explosive department.
He maintained that under the Petroleum Rules 1934, to inspect the map of a filling station was their responsibility adding that they also inspect commercial sites only.
District Police Officer (DPO) Gujrat apprised to the court that they have arrested the owner of the said petrol pump from where the driver of the van purchased fuel.
The bench inquired that why had they arrested the owner of the pump as the court did not pass any such orders.
The DPO stated that the driver of the van got petrol in plastic cans which was illegal and unlawful and the owner did not follow the rules.
The motor vehicle examiner filed a report before the bench in which it was claimed that the van caught fire due to petrol.
Counsel for OGRA apprised to the court that they have received a report from Hydro Carbon Development Institute of Pakistan (HCDIP) in which it mentioned the expiry of the fitness of van.
The Chief Justice remarked that the condition of the van shows that its fitness was expired from the last five years and it shouldn't be on the road.
Counsel for OGRA stated that the whole incident was because of the CNG kit which had to be taken into consideration.
He demanded that there should be a complete ban on the usage of CNG in public transport as there was no space for the installation of CNG cylinders inside vans.
He argued that no one should be allowed to play with the lives of people.
The Chief Justice remarked that the country was already suffering from the shortage of petrol and if all the public vehicles would be converted to only petrol then there would be dearth of fuel.
Later, the court completed hearing of the case and reserved its judgment.
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