‘Politics’ of Watan Cards distribution enters SHC

Authorities not attending to Watan Cards distribution on “political grounds” claim petitioners.

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court Friday directed the Deputy Attorney General and Advocate General Sindh to file comments of respondents on petition challenging the non-issuance of Watan Cards to flood affected people.

A division bench, comprising Justice Mushir Alam & Justice Syed Zakir Hussain, was hearing the petition filed by Abdul Razzaq and other IDPs belonging to district Thatta.

They submitted that the government had received foreign grants for rehabilitation and assistance of affectees in flood-hit areas but was not issuing them financial aid to rebuild houses, cultivate agricultural lands, as NADRA authorities deleted their names from lists entitling the affectees to get financial compensation through Watan Cards.

They submitted that the provision of food and financial compensation to survivors in rustic areas of the province was the duty of the provincial government, but authorities on “political grounds” were not attending to them.

They called on the respondents to give financial assistance to IDPs, rehabilitate their houses and agricultural lands without political discrimination.

On Friday, their counsel moved a miscellaneous application seeking urgent hearing of the petition in view of the gravity of the IDP situation.

Allowing the urgency application, the SHC ordered, “Let notice be issued to respondents as well as DAG. Officials present need not to appear in person, however, they are directed to file their comments either through DAG or AG Sindh.”