Who is responsible for implementing SC’s order, asks SHC

An NGO has asked Sindh government to build new houses for flood-affected people.

KARACHI:

The Sindh High Court has directed the provincial government’s law officer to inform them as to who is responsible for implementing the Supreme Court’s order regarding the rehabilitation of people affected by floods in the previous years.

With the threats of fresh floods looming large over the province, the provincial government has failed to rehabilitate hundreds of thousands of families rendered homeless during the floods of 2010 and 2011.

As the victims awaited the government response after a lapse of several months, a non-profit organisation, the United Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, took the matter to court.

Rana Faizul Hasan, the general-secretary of the NGO, stated that the provincial government was legally and constitutionally bound to assist every affected person.

He alleged that the authorities responsible were not showing interest in providing relief to the families, who had lost their homes and assets. He pleaded to the court to order the government authorities to take steps for the welfare of such families and build houses for them at the state’s expense.

During Friday’s hearing, additional advocate-general Meeran Muhammad Shah said that the apex court had earlier issued orders to ensure the relief of flood victims.

Chief Justice Mushir Alam, who headed the two-member bench, directed Shah to give information about reference of the SC’s judgment and examine whether the same judgment is to be implemented by the high court or the apex court. The hearing was adjourned for a date to be later fixed by the office.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 18^th, 2013.