Irfan Aligi
Courts in Karachi rejected bail petitions of the manufacturers and vendors of Gutka, which is carcinogenic and has affected a huge number of people who are struggling for their lives at public and private hospitals.
According to details, different courts per districts in Karachi heard the cases of manufacturers and vendors of hazardous and carcinogenic Gutka, which totaled 160 cases. Those courts had under the clause 337-J of Pakistan Penal Code rejected bails and asserted that it was a non-bailable crimes and the accused could be punished for 10 to 14 years as they are involved in heinous crimes against the humanity. Karachi’s District and Session Judge, East rejected 180 bail petitions while courts in West, Central and South rejected 50, 15, 15 bail petitions respectively.
Those courts told the offenders that they could face an imprisonment from 10 to 14 years. The Sindh High Court had directed Police to insert section 337-J in FIRs against the manufacturers and vendors of Gutka and thus the cases were rendered non-bailable.
Sindh government has also completed a detailed law in this context and would soon be promulgated in letter and spirit in the province. It is worth mentioning that the assets and properties of the manufacturers and vendors of Gutka could also be confiscated.
