HEC directed to recognise degrees

LAHORE

The Lahore High Court has directed the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan to recognise degrees of 2,800 students secured under a dual-degree programme offered by Comsats University in collaboration with Lancaster University of UK. 

Justice Shahid Karim passed this order on petitions filed by Abu Bakar, Talha and other students of the Comsats University.

The students’ counsel argued that the university received a huge fee from the students against the dual-degree programme under which the students were to study one of the two years of programme at the Lancaster University in UK. However, he said, the Comsats betrayed the offer at later stage and the HEC also refused to recognise their degrees. 

Justice Karim directed the HEC and Pakistan Engineering Council to approve the dual-degree programme offered by the Comsats university and accredit the degrees of the students.

Christians: The Lahore High Court on Wednesday sought assistance of Attorney General of Pakistan (AG) on a petition challenging the repletion of section 7 of the Christian Divorce Act.

Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah directed AG to appear on May 12.

Judge also directed to issue a proclamation in newspapers inviting the suggestions on this issue from Christian parliamentarians in Punjab Assembly as well as in National Assembly.

Judge expressed dismayed that the parliamentarians had been negligent to the reformation of Christian personal laws.

Bishop Alexander John Malik admitted that the section 7 of divorce act 1869 should be restored.

An amicus curie (friend of court) Ms Hina Jillani unequivocally supported the point of view of the petitioner and asserted that the legislature had thoroughly failed to reform the law and the Christian minority was living in obscurity regarding regulation of their divorce matters.

Company: The Lahore High Court Green Bench on Wednesday stopped South Chemicals (pvt) Ltd, Multan from functioning for not following environmental protection rules. 

The bench comprising Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Shujaat Ali Khan passed this order on a petition filed by Punjab Environment Department.

Assistant Advocate General Anwaar Hussain argued that the department had issued environmental permission to South Chemicals in April 2012 with the directions to fulfill the environmental protection requirements.

He said the company did not comply with the directions and the department issued show cause notice to company in June 2012, which caused cancellation of permission in July 2013. 

The company filed an appeal against the cancellation of the environmental permission before Environmental Protection Tribunal, Lahore and the tribunal set aside the department’s decision and restored the permission in May 2014.

The law officer argued that the company had not been taking steps for environment protection which had been increasing in pollution in the area. Locals of the area had been complaining against the company, he added.