Calamities, bad governance responsible for flood devastation: SHC CJ
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HYDERABAD: Chief Justice Ahmed Ali M. Shaikh of Sindh High Court has said that Sindh’s infrastructure was destroyed partly by natural calamities and partly by bad governance.
He observed this during his brief address to members of the High Court Bar Association (HCBA) and later answering questions from media personnel at the bar’s office here on Friday.
“Masses have the solution [to their woes] because they elect their representatives to assemblies and power,” he said.
He said Sindh’s infrastructure was badly destroyed during recent rains and floods. “Such conditions might not be seen if people’s representatives would have realised that they will be held accountable by their voters after every five years,” he remarked. He said people had their destiny in their own hands.
He said that he doesn’t have statistics on flood devastation; this matter was pending before Supreme Court and, therefore, he would not comment on it. He said he would not give any political message to citizens. He said that provision of justice was everyone’s right and he/she should be vigilant about seeking rights. Every individual must get justice, he stressed.
He said that people could put queries to their elected representatives about their rights.
The chief justice said advocates were the most well-informed segment of society and they were more concerned about their rights when compared with common man.
He said functions of judiciary and executive were separate. Courts could not perform functions of the executive. Judicial functions have nothing to do with the executive.
He said judiciary and legislature also had their own domains. Judiciary interprets the Constitution while legislature (parliament) performs legislation functions and both institutions work in separate domains.
Justice Shaikh said that “Sindh High Court doesn’t take suo motu as this authority lies with Supreme Court”.
Chief Justice Ahmed Ali M. Shaikh inaugurated the renovated bar room, cafeteria, drafting section, digital library and consultation room.
HCBA president Ghulamullah Chang and general secretary Altaf Sachal Awan spoke at the programme.
Mr Awan urged the chief justice to take notice of the Nooriabad bus inferno in which 18 internally displaced people (IDPs) returning to their homes in Khairpur Nathan Shah were burnt alive on Wednesday. He said the government should be directed to pay them compensation.
He also requested that the high court should seek reports from every district administration regarding rain and flood devastation as the entire province had drowned.
He claimed that deputy commissioners were not performing their duties efficiently.
Published in Dawn, October 15th, 2022
