SC announces verdict on Tarbela Dam affectees after 60 years

ISLAMABAD:

The Supreme Court on Monday upheld the decision of Peshawar High Court regarding the payment and allotment of alternative land to the people affected by the construction of Tarbela Dam and directed the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) to find a way out and compensate the victims.

According to Express News, the apex court, while ruling on Tarbela Dam affectees after 60 years, dismissed Wapda’s appeal upon withdrawal against the claims of the victims and upheld the decision of the PHC regarding payment of compensation and alternative land to the victims.

The verdict was announced by a three-member bench of the top court led by Chief Justice-designate Umar Ata Bandial.

In his remarks, Justice Bandial said that according to the policy, Tarbela Dam victims did not get the alternative land.

“How much land is required to be given to 206 [Tarbela dam] affectees?” he asked the Wapda counsel.

The Wapda lawyer replied that 5,000 acres of land was required for the purpose to which the chief justice-designate ordered that Wapda should find a way out and compensate the victims.

Justice Bandial said Wapda had also settled matters with the Diamer-Bhasha Dam victims and observed that Rs0.107 million was not enough for 12 acres of land.

The Wapda’s counsel replied that the department would review the issue in light of the PHC orders.

Separately, the SC ordered the Pakistan Railways secretary to place an advertisement for club’s tenders in Railway Royal Palm Golf Club case.

The top court ordered a private firm to complete the audit of the club for the year 2017 within two weeks.

A three-member bench of the apex court headed by Justice Bandial heard the case.

During the hearing, the chief justice-designate remarked that the case came before the apex court in the public interest.

He said public properties were being misused and that financial irregularities during the year 2016 had come to the fore.

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Justice Ijazul Ahsan remarked that former CEO Shah Rukh had recruited staff in the club and made decisions on membership and financial matters. He said the decisions of the ex-CEO revealed irregularities amounting to Rs96 million.

The court observed that the audit reports of the club on financial matters would be reviewed in a separate hearing.

The railways secretary adopted the stance that all preparations had been made for the placement of advertisement for the club, adding that a national and international advertisement would be placed for the tender within two weeks.

The attorney general informed the court that the railways had submitted its reply to the auditor general for irregularities amounting to Rs96 million. He said the auditor general had to give his final opinion on the audit paras.

Instructing a private audit firm to complete the club's 2017 audit in two weeks, including ordering the release of an advertisement for the case, adjourned the hearing indefinitely.

The hearing of the case was adjourned for an indefinite period.