KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Thursday issued notices to the secretary of the Ministry of Ports and Shipping, Director General (Ports and Shipping ) Dock Labour Board, Shipping Master K.P.T Karachi as well as deputy attorney general of Pakistan on an constitutional petition filed by Marine Engineers Imtiaz Hussain and Jamshad Rafiq, seeking Seaman’s Welfare Officers at the four provincial capitals under section 10 of the Merchant Shipping Ordinance, 2001.
A two-member bench, comprising Justice Nadeem Akhtar and Justice Muhammad Faisal Kamal was hearing the petition.
During the hearing counsel for the petitioners stated that petitioners are merchant marine officers serving on foreign vessels. It is thier case that under section 10 of the Merchant Shipping Ordinance, 2001. Secretary Ministry of Ports and Shipping / federal government of Pakistan is duty/ bound to appoint Seaman’s Welfare Officers in Pakistan, but no such appointment has been made by the federal government.
Counsel further argued that in view of the failure on the part of the federal government to comply with the mandatory requirements of the aforesaid ordinance, the fundamental rights of the petitioners and others merchant marine officers are being violated.
Petitioners pleaded the SHC may direct the respondents to devise an online procedure/ mechanism for petitioners ‘ engagement and discharge under the merchant shipping ordinance 2001 and make arrangements for submission of articles of agreement ” online ” also direct the respondents to appoint Seaman’s Welfare Officers at four provincial capitals under section 10 of the Merchant Shipping Ordinance, 2001.
