In a first: CJP hears case on a Sunday

Decision was taken on the public-interest litigation relating to non-supply of potable drinking water among others

KARACHI: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar is conducting hearing today (Sunday) on the public-interest litigation relating to non-supply of potable drinking water and deteriorating sanitation conditions and its impact on environment, at the Supreme Court's Karachi Registry.

This is the first time that the court is conducting hearing on a Sunday.

The three-judge bench, headed by the CJP, will also include Justice Faisal Arab and Justice Sajjad Ali Shah.

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 timeframe to complete water and sanitation development schemes.