Irrigation minister, officials summoned

Judicial commission reached Kandhkot on Friday to record statement of residents.

SUKKUR: Sindh irrigation minister, provincial secretary irrigation, DCO Sukkur and two army officials were summoned for failing to record their statements on the breaches in Tori bund.

The two-member judicial commission, comprising Justice (retired) Ghulam Nabi Soomro and Justice (retired) Zahid Qurban Alvi, is looking into the controversial breach at Tori Bund, which wreaked havoc in several areas of Sindh and Balochistan. The commission was formed following allegations that the government had deliberately made a cut in the dyke.

The commission members regretted that these officials did not join the probe to record their statements before the commission.

They took notice of the attitude displayed by Sindh Irrigation Minister Jam Saifulllah Dharejo, Sindh Irrigation Secretary Shuja Junejo, DCO Sukkur Inamullah Dharejo and two army officials, Brigadier Amanat and Brigadier Tariq, in Karachi.

Meanwhile, provincial ministers, Agha Taimoor Pathan and Mir Abid Khan Jatoi, contacted the commission on the phone to record their statements but they were directed to meet the judges on October 11 in Karachi. President Growers Association Sukkur Kamaluddin Jatoi, Muhammed Akram Bhayo and Khawind Ali Bhayo, in their statements, accused the irrigation officials for causing the breach in Tori embankment.

The commission members told the media their report will be submitted to the Sindh government within three weeks. The officials of all departments will have to give statements to the commission, Justice Alvi told the media on Friday.

Commission arrives in Kandhkot

The Tori Bund investigation moved ahead on Friday after the judicial commission recorded statements of 40 people, including lawyers, journalists and residents of flood-hit areas.

Sources said that the residents accused the irrigation department of creating the breach in Tori bund despite resistance.

PML-N demands new judges

The Sukkur representative of Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz, Ghulam Shabbir Dayo Advocate, expressed his reservations on the judicial commission formed to investigate the breaches in Tori and MS bunds. He demanded that the investigations be carried out by a judge from another province.

Legal expert Abdul Mujeeb Pirzada filed a petition in the Sindh High Court against the judicial commission, said Dayo, adding that the government should dissolve it since it is based on retired judges.

He appealed to the Chief Justice of Pakistan to ensure that the investigations are carried out by another judge.

Additional input by APP

Published in The Express Tribune, October 9^th, 2010.