A two-member bench of the Sindh High Court headed by Justice Aqeel Ahmad Abbasi heard a petition related to non-supply of water to the residents of Defence Housing Authority (DHA) and Cantonment Board Clifton (CBC) and stopped the concerned authorities from charging extra money for water from the residents.
The counsel for the petitioner submitted that despite paying the tax, water is not supplied through the lines in the DHA and Cantonment Board areas. Water was being supplied by tanker and extra money is charged for it.
The court ordered to supply water in DHA, Clifton and Cantonment Board areas. The court remarked that five water tankers should be provided to the petitioner residents every month.
Justice Abbasi also gave an earful to the representatives of the defendant, saying they make tall claims but have failed to provide water to those under their jurisdiction. When people pay taxes, it is the responsibility of DHA and the Cantonment Board to prove them water.
The court restrained the authorities concerned from collecting additional money from the residents and sought a detailed report from the parties on April 26.
De-sealing 'toxic' factories
A two-member bench headed by Sindh High Court Chief Justice Ahmed Ali Shaikh heard the petition related to the deaths due to poisonous gas in Keamari and sought complete details from the deputy commissioner about factories in the area.
At least 18 people died under mysterious circumstances in Keamari in January. The majority of the victims were women and children.
Keamari Deputy Commissioner Mukhtiar Abro and other officers appeared before the court for the hearing in which the Sindh advocate general presented the report of the health department.
The court inquired how many factories were there in the area and what action had been taken against them. The advocate general responded that he would outline the areas where negligence took place.
Meanwhile, the Sindh chief justice pointed out that the DC's report stated that the owners had voluntarily shut down their factories. He inquired why wasn't it stated that the factories had been sealed. Upon this, the DC responded that cases had been registered against four factory owners.
Justice Shaikh said there were inconsistencies between the statements of the assistant and deputy commissioners and expressed concern whether someone was taking instructions from factory owners.
The police surgeon told the court that post-mortem was performed on nine exhumed bodies and they showed presence of poisonous substances and plastic particles. The reports of the other five dead bodies would be available in eight to ten days.
The prosecutor general told the chief justice that following the post-mortem report, cases had been registered under the section for culpable homicide.
The court adjourned the hearing till May 15, seeking complete details from the Keamari DC regarding factories in the area.
PTI's missing activist
The Sindh High Court has disposed of a petition related to the recovery of PTI social media worker Muhammad Salman Khan. The petitioner's counsel submitted that Salman returned home two days ago. The application was withdrawn upon the worker's return.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 11th, 2023.
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