KARACHI: Sindh High Court Chief Justice Zafar Ahmed Rajput on Monday formally inaugurated a special tribunal established to speed up the hearing and disposal of water theft cases in Karachi.

A ceremony was held at the headquarters of the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC).

The tribunal has been constituted under the KWSC Act and it would be headed by Judge Munir Bakhsh Bhutto.

Following the inauguration, the chief justice, along with Mayor Murtaza Wahab, visited the Hydrants Cell Management and Complaint Management Centre, where he was briefed on operational mechanisms, water supply management, citizen grievance redress systems and ongoing actions against illegal connections.

Mayor Wahab described the establishment of the tribunal as a major milestone in safeguarding public interest, protecting citizens’ rights, and preserving Karachi’s vital water resources.

He added that the Sindh government would show no leniency toward those involved in water theft.

Speaking to Dawn, KWSC Chief Executive Ahmed Ali Siddiqui said that for the first time in the city’s history, a special tribunal was established to ensure the swift hearing and disposal of water theft cases.

He said that the move was part of the efforts to tackle the city’s pressing water challenges, including issues arising from ageing infrastructure and rampant illegal tapping of water supplies.

The CEO said that the establishment of this tribunal was expected to help curb water theft and impose stricter penalties on those involved.

He said that a temporary police station to deal with water theft cases was already functional, while a permanent police station was under construction in the KWSC Complex.

Published in Dawn, January 27th, 2026