Ex-CMs grilled on Balochistan water woes

FC IG directed to present public order report on Friday

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Saqib Nisar on Wednesday heard the suo motu case concerning water shortage in Balochistan and said “the people of the province lack political vitality.”
Heading a three-judge bench CJP Nisar summoned the former chief ministers of the province Abdul Malik Baloch and Sanaullah Zehri and asked them whether the situation had taken a turn for the better.

Observing that some water sources had dried up, the top judge said his Quetta visit had left him “dismayed.”



“Do not say that you are short of funds. We have been striving to make the government function,” the CJP said.
“What steps have been taken to end water scarcity,” Justice Ejazul Ahsan asked. The top court then directed ex-chief ministers to present responses today (Thursday).

Lack of education, medical facilities
Despite a manifold hike in the provincial education budget, 6,054 schools lack walls and toilets, the top judge observed. If one school is upgraded per year, it will take 60 years to revamp 6,000, the CJP Nisar commented dryly.
“Quetta hospitals lack CCUs,” he remarked while commenting on the poor standards across the city’s health facilities. He went on to add that scores of staff were on strike over his visit to the city.
“We procured equipment worth Rs2 billion for provincial hospitals,” ex-chief minister Baloch told the court.
Noting that the incumbent chief minister had only been in office for two months, CJP Nisar asked the former chief ministers to detail their performances.

Hazara killings

The chief justice also commented on poor public order across the province. Noting that the situation could not be salvaged till citizens’ lives and properties had been secured, CJP Nisar asked if attacks on the Hazaras had declined.
Baloch said the crime rate fell during the year 2013 to 2015, “it declined from 258 to 48” and claimed that he didn’t make any political appointments in the police department. For that “you can call IG.”
The apex court also directed Frontier Corps IG Nadeem Anjum to present a report on province-wide public order on Friday.