LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Wednesday issued notices to the attorney general, advocate general of Punjab, inspector general of police, director general of Child Protection and Welfare Bureau and others on a petition against the government`s failure to enforce child labour laws.

Representing a citizen, Advocate Sheraz Zaka argued before the court that the government had turned a blind eye to the issue of child labour, which was being used for many construction activities. He pointed out that underage labourers could be witnessed working at various projects, including the Gulberg Signal Free Corridor and Orange Line Metro Train. He said it was a violation of law as well as infringement of fundamental rights.

The counsel stated that the children working at brick kilns and those being exploited for begging manifested that the CPWB also failed to perform its statutory duties.

He pleaded that the provisions of Employment of Children Act 1991, as well as Punjab Destitute and Neglected Children Act 2004, needed to be enforced strictly across the province.

Justice Shujaat Ali Khan adjourned hearing till March 30 and directed the respondents to submit their replies.

PILOT RELEASED: The LHC released a Shaheen Airlines pilot on bail in a case of crash-landing allegedly under the influence of liquor.

Justice Tariq Abbasi granted bail to Asmat Mahmood and directed him to furnish surety bonds of Rs500,000.

Sarwar Road police had registered a case against the pilot on complaint of the Civil Aviation Authority.

Mahmood had allegedly crash-landed a plane at Lahore airport on Nov 3, 2015, under the influence of liquor.

The pilot`s counsel argued his client was forced to crash-land following a technical fault in the landing gear of the plane. He said the pilot was left with no option but to crash-land to save lives of the passengers and others on board.