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CJP lashes out at Sindh govt for negligence over supply of unsafe drinking water
Chief Justice of Pakistan Saqib Nisar lashed out at the Sindh government for its negligence over the supply of unsafe drinking water across the province, demanding to know where the authorities had spent their funds, DawnNews reported on Monday.
The chief justice was hearing a petition filed by Advocate Shahab Usto in the Supreme Court Karachi registry against the authorities for their alleged failure in providing clean drinking water and environment to the people in Sindh.
In the petition filed last year, Usto had alleged that the land meant for Mehmoodabad water treatment plant was illegally allotted to other people by former Karachi mayor Mustafa Kamal. He claimed that almost 80 million people had hepatitis because of drinking polluted water.
The SC had then appointed a two-judge bench, headed by Justice Amir Hani Muslim, who had ordered the formation of a commission headed by a Sindh High Court judge for fair distribution of drinking water in the province.
Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah, however, had last month raised concerns over the commission formed by the SC.
"Let judiciary take care of its own work. If it interferes with administration’s work, the issues will not be resolved. I can’t be a journalist and a cricketer can’t be a politician, so let everyone take care of his own job,” he had said.
During Monday's hearing, Usto told the court that the commission had surveyed the entire province. "From Karachi to Kashmore, no citizen has access to safe and hygienic drinking water," he claimed.
"It is the government's responsibility to provide clean water to the public," Justice Saqib said, inquiring about what elected officials had been doing regarding the matter.
Sindh's health secretary, chief secretary, home secretary, and managing director of water and sewage appeared in court along with other high-ranking officials.
Justice Saqib observed that people were suffering from diseases like cancer and hepatitis due to drinking polluted water, adding that the SC would follow this case closely since it was an "extremely serious" matter. He added that he can come to Karachi every week in order to find out who was responsible for the mismanagement in water distribution throughout the province.
The chief justice ordered the Sindh CM and former Karachi mayor to appear in court — the former will appear on Wednesday while the latter will appear tomorrow.
"Water is one of the resources that our country is blessed with," the chief justice remarked. "We need to protect our resources."
Comments (19) Closed
Keep up the good work CJP, the whole nation is looking for the strong judicial system. There is no one to help the poor masses please do your job honestly and root out this corrupt mafia.
very fine and interesting news
Great effort by Advocate Shahab Usto
I hope vary best working for sindh govt
Monitoring at regular intervals can result in improvement. CJP BRAVO.
Bravo
SC kindly also investigate why for the last 7-8 years Karachi is under the control of the Water Tanker Mafia? Why are the different cantonments unable to provide basic tap water let alone drinking water. This problem even persists in the posh DHA area where houses request tankers costing Rs.4500 every week.
What an uncalled for outburst by the CM?
Courts want to administer country?
Children died in Tharparker because they had no water nor food. Do Sindh even have a government?
Provincial government should be ashamed of itself even if they have some self respect because citizens are asking court to provide them water.
The Court may also like to see reports prepared by Consultants for various WSS Projects/ Programs during the last 50 years. Each of these has a situation analysis of that particular time. These would show he "rate" at which the situation has deteriorated despite all these Donor funded as well as govt funded projects and programs!!
Water is a basic necessity of life and its time the Govt. looks into this seriously.
Nothing will happen . These things will keep going on forever ....There is no hope for future as well
A very correct and timely step taken by the honorable CJP. The chief ministrater's assertions carry no weight, because it is his government that has consistently overlooked deficiencies and corrupt practices of administrative department under his control. The water tanker Mafia, with the connivance of its political patrons, is squeezing money from people by supplying them unsafe water that too from public hydrants. Being co-author of emission standards of Pakistan, which is enforced throughout Pakistan as an environmental Act, sets in a threshold limit for inorganic and organic substances in domestic potable water supplied to public. It is therefore mandatory for the supervisory administrative office of the Federal as well as provincial government under its rule of business to oversee its implementation. An utter failure of Sind EPA and as well as PSCIR laboratory, not to have an oversight through constant vigil by testing of MPN of pathogens in public water supply is unpardonable.
The CJ is requested to please conclude this drinking water petition at the earliest as 90% diseases are linked to polluted unsafe drinking water.
Thank u CJP.
After investing so much money and time for getting elected to the assembly and being in a position of power, one gets only a few years to accumulate wealth for the well-being of one's kith and kins. If we look after the welfare of the masses then it means that we have no future for our own children who deserve better than the general populace. How can we provide potable water to the masses at the cost of our own welfare? That is impossible to say the least.
Yes it is govt responsibility