SC orders Justice (R) Muslim to complete his term

The Water Commission head claims to have pressurised the govt but all in vain

KARACHI: The Supreme Court (SC) ordered on Tuesday the Water Commission Head Justice (retd) Amir Hani Muslim to continue working till his fixed term ends on January 15. The plea hearing filed by Justice (r) Muslim against the extension of the commission's term took place in the SC Karachi registry.

Justice (R) Muslim was appointed as the head of the Water Commission that was established two years ago given the troubling water situation in the province. The Water Commission exposed the government's poor performance on non-functional Reverse Osmosis (RO) plants, cramped sewerage systems, and increasing water pollution under Justice (R) Muslim.

The commission also exposed the true nature of the big promises made by the Sindh government. Despite efforts to resolve these issues, the situation is still bad. The commission continued to pressure the government but they kept giving them written excuses.

According to the Water Commission's report, several cities were visited where hospitals and water plants were found to be inactive. The people of the province have been deprived of clean water for the last many years. The commission's efforts for the provision of clean water were appreciable but the people continue to suffer. The government's efforts were non-serious on providing clean drinking water, the commission revealed.

Aam Log Ittehad registration

The SC annulled the notification to revoke the registration of Justice (R) Wajihuddin Ahmed's political party Aam Log Ittehad Party and ordered the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to register the party.

A two-member bench, headed by CJP Mian Saqib Nisar, heard the case at the SC Karachi registry on Tuesday. Justice (R) Ahmed appeared in the court and argued that the ECP cancelled their registration despite the submission of 2,000 NICs and Rs2,00,000. The ECP had claimed that inter-party elections were not carried out in the party based on which the notification was issued. The court declared the notification annulled and warned ECP that in case of any negligence, a show-cause notice will be issued to those responsible. The CJP inquired from the ECP representative about the intentions behind issuing the notification. The representative said that he only had just seen the notification. The court remarked that the ECP was unable to satisfy the court with the reason behind the notification hence it has been annulled.

Owais Muzaffar Tappi

The SC once again echoed with the name of Tappi. The CJP inquired from the authorities who Tappi was and remarked that he should be brought to court with respect and not under arrest.



The three-member bench of SC, headed by CJP Nisar and comprising Justice Faisal Arab and Justice Ijaz ul Ahsan, heard the case regarding encroachments. During the hearing, a citizen said that the illegal occupation in Shah Latif Town had been done by Owais Muzaffar Tappi. A vast area had been illegally occupied and widows have been deprived of their land. The CJP inquired, "Where is this Tappi? Who is he? Is any inspector-general or senior officer present here?" The court directed a senior police officer to find Tappi and bring him in with respect today (Wednesday). The CJP further said that if the advocate-general's government or any minister has illegal occupations anywhere, then they must vacate them within two days. The CJP turned to the Karachi Mayor and directed that any illegal occupation of land with any government officials or leaders should be vacated. He warned that if any illegal encroachments are indicated, they will not leave them.

NAB inquiry

The SC annulled the notice issued by National Accountability Bureau (NAB) regarding the NAB inquiry against a senior lawyer, Salman Hamid. The apex court issued show cause notice to the investigation officer (IO) for filing an unclear case.

The CJP expressed anger at IO Qamar Abbas. He addressed the NAB Director-General Farooq Naseer Awan and said, "You people are getting out of your limits, you are not ashamed even after the court's bashing. You disrespect people, is this the tool for investigation, has God appointed you for doing this?"

The NAB Karachi director general apprised the court that the notice was issued after Hamid lodged a case without prior permission of a suspect. On which, the CJP questioned the bureau's motive behind starting an investigation against the lawyer.

"You issue notice when someone performs professional duty … you insult people by calling them in. Is this why the Almighty chose you? You show them around police lockups and then even the Supreme Court fails to spot them for the next six months," he remarked.

Barring the NAB from summoning Salman Hamid for inquiry any longer, the chief justice said the lawyer could only be sent a questionnaire for investigation.

Earlier in the day, the lawyers' fraternity staged a protest against NAB's inquiry against Hamid outside the apex court's Karachi Registry. They shouted slogans against the corruption watchdog and were later called in to Court Number 1 by the CJP.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 12^th, 2018.