SHC seeks replies from DHA, over plea against non-availability of water

Plea seeks implementation of Zainab Alert, Response and Recovery Act 2020

KARACHI:

The Sindh High Court issued notices to the Defence Housing Authority and other relevant officials on Monday over a petition filed against the non-availability of water in the area.

Petitioner, Ameena Khan, a resident of DHA has also called for an audit of DHA to be conducted. The petitioner maintained that the Constitution of Pakistan gives equal rights to all citizens.

 The DHA administration has been providing water to area residents through its tanker service but a question remains as to from where this water is bought to sell to residents, stated the petitioner.

The petitioner contended that it was clear that water is available with the DHA and Clifton Cantonments but the water is not provided despite collection of hefty charges.

She maintained that billions of rupees have been collected since 2003 on annual water charges but residents are not provided with water.

Contending that the financial affairs of the DHA and Cantonment Board Clifton (CBC) are kept hidden, the petitioner moved the court to direct the relevant authorities to ensure water supply to residents of DHA and Clifton or provide free of cost tanker service.

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 Besides, the petitioner prayed the court to order a detailed audit of the DHA and CBC from 2007 to 2020.

The high court issued notices to the federal defence secretary, military land and cantonment director-general, the DHA administration and other parties, seeking their replies within three weeks. Zainab alert law in another plea, seeking implementation of the Zainab Alert, Response and Recovery Act 2020, the court issued notices to the deputy attorney general and the federal government.

 The petitioner's counsel argued that the law was enacted in 2020 but a child protection advisory board has not been established as yet. The counsel moved the court to direct the relevant authorities to ensure implementation of the law passed to curb child abduction and rape cases.

The court issued notices to the relevant officials seeking their replies by March 2.

Absent IO, prosecutor Meanwhile, hearing the bail plea of Adam Jhokio, accused in a case pertaining to China cutting of government land, a two-member bench of the SHC, comprising Justice Naimatullah Phulpoto and Justice Abdul Mobeen Lakho, summoned the National Accountability Bureau DG.

Irked at the absence of the NAB investigation officer and the anti-graft watchdog's prosecutor, the bench summoned the DG at the next hearing of the case.

Jhokio is implicated in an inquiry pertaining to 200 acres of land in Gulshan-e-Elahi, and is accused of being involved in China cutting of state land and defrauding citizens in the name of a residential society.

Coined by the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), the term 'China cutting' refers to the slicing of plots from parks and land earmarked for public amenities, and turning them into residential and commercial properties to be sold off for a huge profit.

 During the hearing, Jhokio's counsel maintained that his client entered into a plea bargain in 2012 in connection with the same land that the NAB inquiry pertains to. But the inquiry against Jhokio has been reopened, stated the counsel.