CJP tasks Aitzaz Ahsan to submit recommendations on water crisis

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar on Thursday said he wished to build more dams to address the acute water crisis, and to pay off the burdening debt facing the nation.

The chief justice was hearing a suo motu case on water shortages and lack of supply throughout the country.

During the hearing the chief justice criticised former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and former president Asif Ali Zardari for doing nothing on the water crisis during their tenures.

“Respect the vote means to provide fundamental rights to the people,” he said adding that authorities could no longer ignore the problem and need to take practical steps to solve it.

“We are wasting water and minerals worth billions of rupees in the ocean,” he remarked.

He also criticised the ‘tanker mafia’ for not paying a single penny in taxes, and stated that the tanker mafia was now active in Islamabad as well after Karachi.

Additional Attorney General informed the court that the federal capital was receiving 58.7 million gallons of water supply, while the demand was more than 120 MG.

He summoned the chief commissioner of Islamabad, Capital Development Authority chairman, and cantonment board officials to appear on Friday.

He instructed senior lawyer and Pakistan People’s Party leader Aitzaz Ahsan to submit recommendations to tackle the national water crisis by June 21. Ahsan was also tasked prepare a report on the supply of drinking water and water reserves in the country.

CJP Nisar had taken a suo motu notice of the water crisis in the country saying that it would be their top priority, and the apex court will hear cases regarding water shortage across the country.

The Supreme Court will hear cases regarding water on Thursday, and will hold hearings on June 9 and 10 at the Karachi and Lahore registries respectively.