KARACHI: Sindh High Court Chief Justice Ahmed Ali M. Shaikh on Tuesday issued notices to the provincial health department and other authorities over the death of 18 people in a Keamari neighbourhood.

SHC Registrar Abdul Razzaq placed a report before the chief justice about the death of 18 people within a couple of weeks apparently because of inhaling toxic gases emitted from some factories in the area. The chief justice converted the report into a constitutional petition and fixed it for hearing on Feb 7.

The chief justice put the district heath officer, deputy commissioner and others as well as advocate general and prosecutor general Sindh on notice for Feb 7.

He directed the health secretary and other officials concerned to appear in court along with reports on the day of hearing.

Two petitions, filed in February 2020 regarding the deaths of around 15 people due to suspected leakage of toxic gas in Keamari, were also fixed for hearing before a two-judge bench headed by chief justice on the same date.

Published in Dawn, February 1st, 2023