AAM Loug Ittehad Pakistan (ALIP) has requested the Supreme Court of Pakistan (SC) to take suo motu action and order an independent probe into the mysterious toxic gas leak that claimed 14 lives and affected over 250 persons.
ALIP, a newly-launched political party to discuss and resolve AAM Loug's (common man) issues, has expressed resentment over the attitude of the authorities concerned, who are still unable to identify the source of toxic gas leakage that caused human catastrophe.
Dr Syed Muhammad Hafeez Qaiser, chairman ALIP said that we have invited the attention of apex court towards an extremely serious incident of toxic gas leakage that occurred on February 17, 2020.
He said the death toll raised to 14 persons and over 250 individuals were critically affected due to the mysterious toxic gas that led suspended all operations at Karachi ports and customs department on 18-2-2020. He said that the panic still prevailed in Karachi as no authority had yet confirmed the cause of the incident followed by numerous conspiracy theories.
Keeping the said in view, the common people seek their constitutional rights as laid down in the constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan which guarantees - right to live and right to protect the properties and their businesses, chairman ALIP said.
Although a vessel has been forcibly removed from Jetty (port) and presently under detention over the accusation of polluting air with the toxic material (apparently Soybean dust) that caused the death of around 14 persons that affected over 250 persons, the Vessel had not broken bulk at the time of the first reported incident, that would mean soybean dust could not possibly be the cause, he maintained.
Another conspiracy theory that has gone viral on social media is the use of a most outdated (Chemical) "Methyl Bromide" to fumigate old and used clothing lots, he said and added that this chemical was banned by UNO Control department and was never used anywhere in the developed countries besides the third world countries.
He said that the Quarantine Department of Ministry of Health said that there were no toxicants and had cleared the goods from their side and an analysis report by International Centre for Chemical and Biological Sciences- Research Institute of Chemistry and Dr. Punjwani Centre for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research blamed soybean dust as the cause for these tragic deaths and suggested to keep said vessel away from the dock.
Moreover, he said that this was in complete contrast with the findings of a report issued by Global Environmental Lab Pvt. Ltd that was conducted on the request of Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) in which they have taken the stance of finding levels of toxic gases in the air and no mention of soybean dust or the like.
Therefore, it is a matter of public interest hence the Supreme Court is requested to take suo motu action and order independent investigation of the case, he maintained.