Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Shahbaz Sharif on Sunday told the Supreme Court (SC) that his office would formulate a comprehensive plan for the provision of clean water to citizens of Lahore.

Sharif gave his assurances to a three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Saqib Nisar, which had summoned the Punjab CM to explain his government's position regarding the provision of clean drinking water to citizens, and the disposal of large quantities of untreated waste water and sewage, as the court heard a suo motu case and petition on the same.

A court commission earlier told the SC bench, comprising Justices Manzoor Ahmad Malik and Ijazul Ahsan, at the Lahore registry that alarming quantities of untreated waste water produced by the provincial capital was being disposed off in the River Ravi.

The CJP-led bench had on Saturday summoned CM Shahbaz as Chief Secretary Zahid Saeed had no satisfactory response when Advocate Ayesha Hamid, the head of the court commission looking into the matter, told the court that 540 million gallons of untreated waste water or sewage were being discharged in the river daily.

“Why should the chief minister not be summoned right now to explain what is happening in his Takht-i-Lahore?” the CJP had asked the chief secretary.

After welcoming the chief minister to court today, Justice Nisar said that the provincial government should do more in the sectors of health and education.

In response to the CJP's remarks, CM Shahbaz said that he would make sure his office comes up with a comprehensive plan for water treatment and the provision of clean water to the residents of the province.

Earlier, Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah, who was also present in court, spoke to the media and said, "The provision of clean drinking water to the people is important, but the provision of justice is more important."

CJP takes suo motu notice of Punjab police 'encounters'

During the hearing, the chief justice took suo motu notice of fake encounters staged allegedly by the Punjab police and ordered that the chief secretary to provide the court the details of all encounters that took place in the past one year.

Justice Nisar rejected the home secretary's request for 10 days to compile the report and ordered him to submit the report within a week's time.

Removal of barriers foutside CM house, other residences

While Shahbaz was present in court, the CJP ordered that all the barriers outside CM House, the Sharif family's Jati Umrah residence, the passport office and Shahbaz's Model Town residence be removed.

"Why have police officials made you afraid?" the chief justice said, suggesting that Shahbaz should interact more with the public.

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.