ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar on Friday directed that a four-member committee headed by chairman Capital Development Authority (CDA) be formed to look into the issue of illegal water hydrants.

Hearing a suo motu case regarding illegal hydrants and the difficulties residents of the twin cities were facing due to the water shortage, the chief justice directed that some specific people submit affidavits stating they did not have hydrants. He warned that they would face consequences if they filed frivolous affidavits.

He asked if people who had hydrants were present in court on Friday.

Additional Attorney General Nayyar Rizvi said eight people, including Zamarud Khan, Malik Ibrar, Shahzad Khan and Sajawal Mehboob, were present in court.

Malik Abrar tried to introduce himself as a former MNA but the chief justice interrupted and asked him to leave the introduction and stick to the matter.

Mr Abrar then said he did not own any tubewell and was directed to submit an affidavit. He was warned of consequences if the affidavit was frivolous.

Former MNA Zamarud Khan also said he did not own any tubewell and that as a social worker he wanted to reiterate that there was a severe water crisis in Rawalpindi Cantonment and the CDA and the Cantt board were not cooperating with one another.

He said water was not being supplied to a number of places deliberately and that residents of these areas were suffering.

The chief justice asked why water was being given free of cost to tankers and why a code of conduct could not be made regarding supply to tankers or from hydrants.

A representative of the municipal corporation said they were considering imposing a tax on those who used water from tubewells and that a decision in this regard would be made in 15 days.

The chief justice asked why institutions remember to do things only when the Supreme Court takes up issues.

Zamarud Khan intervened and said tubewells should be allowed to function till an alternative is arranged. However, the chief justice advised him not to intervene and suggested he should limit himself to the school he runs.

The court directed the CDA chairman, cantonment board, chairman municipal corporation, executive officer Rawalpindi Cantonment Board and Wasa managing director to submit a report on tubewells within 10 days.

Published in Dawn, June 9th, 2018