The Islamabad High Court on Monday sought responses from the relevant authorities over alleged non-enforcement of fire safety laws in the federal capital.
IHC seeks response on non-enforcement of fire safety laws
ISLAMABAD, Aug 31 (APP): The Islamabad High Court on Monday sought responses from the relevant authorities over alleged non-enforcement of fire safety laws in the federal capital.
Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar heard a petition filed against the failure to implement fire safety regulations in Islamabad. Advocate Afrasiab appeared on behalf of petitioner Naveed Ashiq.
The court issued notices to the Secretary Interior, Chairman Capital Development Authority (CDA), Chief Commissioner Islamabad and Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI), seeking their responses.
During the hearing, the petitioner’s counsel submitted that infants were burnt alive after a fire broke out at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) on August 26.
He alleged that even PIMS, one of the major hospitals in the capital, did not have a fire department No Objection Certificate (NOC).
The counsel further contended that several commercial, educational and healthcare buildings in Islamabad were operating without fire safety NOCs, while many buildings lacked firefighting equipment, emergency exits and fire alarm systems.
The petitioner prayed the court to direct implementation of the Islamabad Fire Prevention and Life Safety Regulations, 2010, and order an immediate fire safety audit of all buildings in the federal capital.
He also sought directions for sealing all buildings operating without the mandatory fire safety NOC.
The court sought responses from the respondents and adjourned further hearing of the case.
