GILGIT: On a personal visit to Gilgit-Baltistan on Tuesday, Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar promised that he would address issues of delayed compensation of land belonging to the people displaced and affected by the Diamer-Bhasha dam.

A press release issued by Shahid Hussain Kamboyo, the public relations officer of the Supreme Appellate Court, said a delegation of the people affected by the Diamer-Bhasha dam handed the chief justice an application stating that their land had been acquired for construction of the dam, but they had not yet been given compensation. They requested him to direct the authorities concerned to release the compensation. The CJP assured them that their issues would be resolved in accordance with the law.

Later on his way to Hunza, the chief justice stopped at Nasirabad where the mother and relatives of Baba Jan, an environmental activist who is currently serving a life sentence, were standing along the Karakoram Highway, in front of the scenic Rakaposhi Mountain, holding placards to catch his attention. The placards carried requests to the CJP to take notice of the Baba Jan case.

The protesting women and children did catch his attention, and the chief justice stopped his motorcade and inquired about their problems. Baba Jan’s brother handed him a letter seeking his intervention for the release of Baba Jan and several other progressive leaders and activists who were also sentenced to life-imprisonment by an antiterrorism court.

Published in Dawn, July 18th, 2018