CJP comes down hard on authorities, says SC will deal with Karachi water tanker mafia
Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar came down hard on Sindh officials, saying the top court would itself deal with the water tanker mafia while hearing cases relating to non-supply of potable water, deteriorating sanitation condition and packed milk on Sunday.
A three-member bench, headed by Justice Nisar and comprising Justice Faisal Arab and Justice Sajjad Ali Shah, heard the case at the Supreme Court’s Karachi Registry, Express News reported.
While hearing a human rights application relating to deficiencies in the production, processing and packing of packed milk in the province, the chief justice directed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and drug inspectors to conduct raids and seize vaccines used on Buffalos to unnaturally increase production.
The top court also ordered to seize the full stock of companies, producing harmful packaged milk.
The milk producing companies filed their reply in today’s hearing, saying that some companies only produce milk and tea-whiteners, which were also produced through milk.
On that, Justice Nisar said that tea-whiteners were not a milk product, adding that even the well-reputed brands were producing low quality milk. “Should we immediately summon owners of all these companies here?” he remarked.
Issuing a deadline of four weeks to print “This is not milk” warning on all packets, the court ordered to examine milk samples of all companies with Rs50,000 of their own expense.
The CJP said the open milk issues will be addressed on completion of packed milk hearing. He also directed the court aide to present a report on quality of milk and tea-whiteners within the next two weeks.
Apex court orders lab tests of packed milk in Sindh
The apex court also heard a case on deteriorating sanitation condition and its impact on environment and water shortage in the city.
During the hearing, the chief justice remarked that without entangling the court, the officials concerned must apprise it on completion dates of all projects in this regard.
“Why there is a shortage of water in Karachi… and how come water tankers are not affected by it? Why there is a water shortage in DHA… have some fear of the Almighty, how can poor purchase two tankers in a month?” he questioned.
Criticising the provincial administration, the CJP said the Sindh government had failed to supply water to its citizens, adding that tankers had become a mafia.
“Billions of rupees are being minted… this mafia has its own interests and these influential will never allow this illegal business to end ,” he remarked. Justice Nisar said the water shortage was only affecting poor as wealthy people had no issues purchasing the water worth Rs14,000 per month.
SC to resume hearing on environmental pollution cases in Karachi
Reprimanding Water Board Managing Director Hashim Raza Zaidi, he said he should leave the post if cannot fulfill the responsibilities and the court will deal with the tanker mafia.
Notices were issued to milk-producing companies, the Sindh advocate general and other provincial officials concerned during the hearing.
The chief justice had criticised on the provincial authorities over their failure to get milk products tested to determine their quality in yesterday’s hearing.
“This is not milk. It is not even an alternative to milk,” he was quoted as saying after urea, hair removing powder and other items were found in some samples from Punjab.
In previous hearings, the chief justice had expressed grave concern over the poor state of administrative affairs in the province and criticised the authorities for their failure to provide clean drinking water and improving sanitation conditions across the province.
This case has seen an unusual turn of events since the start of proceedings as the apex court had for the first time in recent history ordered province-wide inspections of water sources and water quality testing.
The apex court had also grilled Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah after his government had failed to give satisfactory answers on the time-frame to complete water and sanitation development schemes.
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Original news : https://tribune.com.pk/story/1608469/1-cjp-comes-hard-authorities-says-sc-will-deal-karachi-water-tanker-mafia/