Continue anti-encroachment action on irrigation dept lands, orders SHC

Court directs suspension of JIT heads' salaries over lack of progress in recovering missing persons

The Sindh High Court directed the relevant authorities on Monday to continue uninterrupted action against encroachments and illegal occupations on the provincial irrigation department's land.

Sindh Irrigation Minister Sohail Anwer Sial appeared before a three-member bench, comprising Justice Muhammad Iqbal Kalhoro, Justice Agha Faisal and Justice Shamsuddin Abbasi, over the contempt of court notice issued to him.

During the hearing, the Sindh advocate-general maintained that a written report could not be submitted due to some misunderstandings.

When Justice Kalhoro inquired why the report was not submitted at the last hearing, the AG said he was preoccupied in Islamabad and thus could not appear at the last hearing.

Justice Kalhoro further inquired about the progress made thus far towards vacating the irrigation department's land. Action against illegal occupations and encroachments is underway, replied the AG.

The bench remarked that it did not appear as if the work would be completed within the deadline as there are only 20 days left to when the first phase was to be completed.

Directing the relevant authorities to submit pictures of the on-going action and to mention the dates on which the pictures were taken, the court sought a report from the committee formed for the matter.

"The case has been facing delay since 2015 but you seek extensions, again and again, remarked Justice Faisal, adding that the report that was submitted was unacceptable.

The bench observed that the reply was equal to confessing to the offence and asked how the court could discharge the contempt notice.

Following this, the AG sought a week-long extension and stated that the report pertaining to the committees would also be submitted.

The relevant authorities were further directed to identify elements who protested against the operation and to continue their campaign against illegal occupation and encroachments on the provincial irrigation department's lands.

Salaries suspended

Meanwhile, a bench, headed by Justice Naimatullah Phulpoto, directed the relevant authorities to suspend the salary of the heads of the joint-investigation teams (JIT) formed for the recovery of missing persons.

The court expressed annoyance at the investigation officials for making no progress in the investigations.

"The petitioners have stopped appearing in courts," remarked Justice Phulpoto, adding that the people were losing trust in the courts.

The bench observed that repeated directives did not seem to have any impact either.

The court summoned the JIT heads in personal capacity and directed the relevant authorities to suspend their salary.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 9^th, 2021.