SHC seeks replies on plea against faulty bomb detectors

The Sindh High Court issued notices to the Airport Security Force (ASF), the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and others in a petition against the manufacturing and use of a faulty bomb detector.

A division bench of the SHC comprising Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Faisal Agha ordered the departments to submit their replies by March 6 in the petition. Advocate Abdul Moiz Jafri, appearing for the petitioner, Public Interest Law Association of Pakistan, said that the ASF had made a bomb detector named Khoji on a similar junk science used by the UK-based company which was later banned by the British government due to bogus technology.

The ASF took over the making and selling of these magic wands and was selling it for Rs70,000 per device. These detectors were then used by security personnel to protect airports and government installations and had also been widely sold to several private organisations all over the provinc, he said.

He submitted that although the device claims an accuracy level of 90 per cent and detects explosives from distances of up to 100 metres, it is crucial to highlight that these devices use the principles of dowsing which is considered junk science by experts.

He submitted that the ASF had not submitted any official answer or statement against the controversy of using the fake bomb detectors. The counsel submitted that the ASF should be held accountable for their negligence, and the court was requested to restrain the ASF from licensing, manufacturing and using the bomb detector.

The counsel requested the court to restrain the Ministry Of Defence from issuing new contracts in relation to the manufacturing and licensing of Khoji. A division bench headed by Justice Mohammad Ali Mazhar after the preliminary hearing of the petition issued notices to the ministry of defence, the ASF and others and called their comments on March 6.

Sherazi’s petition

A former Pakistan Muslim League (N) MPA who sought a judicial inquiry into the alleged allocation, distribution and utilisation of billions of rupees’ funds of a community development programme for sustainable development goals 2017-18 has joined the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party, a provincial law officer told Sindh High Court.

Syed Aijaz Ali Shah Sherazi had moved court in December 2017 for a judicial inquiry into the allegations pertaining to this and other development projects started by Sindh’s ruling party from 2008 till date.

The provincial law officer informed the court that the petitioner in the case had joined PPP; however, he said he would call a report from the concerned officer. The petitioner’s counsel Mureed Ali Shah submitted that he had no instructions from the petitioner although it was a case with regard to the utilisation and distribution of development funds in an appropriate manner. The court adjourned the hearing till March 13 for further arguments.

Sherazee had submitted in the petition that since 2008, the PPP-led Sindh government had allocated huge amounts on thousands of small and mega development projects, many of whch remained incomplete due to the non-release of funds by the government.

He submitted that various public welfare development schemes such as the construction of roads, school buildings, community halls and dispensaries in the then Thatta district (now Thatta & Sujawal districts) were still unfortunately incomplete.