KARACHI:
The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Wednesday appointed lawyer Mukhdoom Ali Khan as Amicus Curiae to assist the court in deciding a petition challenging the construction of two nuclear power plants in Karachi.
Meanwhile, the bench, headed by SHC chief justice Maqbool Baqar, further extended its previous interim order, restraining the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) from commencing work on the plants until December 5.
A group of four citizens - filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy, physicists Dr Pervez Hoodbhoy and Dr Abdul Hameed Nayyar and architect Arif Belgaumi - had challenged the construction of the two plants, claiming that it was not complying with environmental laws.
On the other hand, PAEC and the Pakistan Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority have argued that the plants are safe for both humans and the environment.
The two judges directed the petitioners' lawyer to provide the entire record of the case to the Amicus Curiae by Thursday without fail so that he could prepare and help the court.
The matter will be taken up on December 5.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 27th, 2014.
COMMENTS (5)
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I support the nuclear reactors. Pakistan has had an impeccable safety record of maintaining nuclear power generation. Developed countries took the same risks 100 years ago to literally “fuel” economic development and Pakistan must do the same. The people building and maintaining the reactors aren’t fools, they are highly trained and educated engineers dedicated to the safe and effective use of nuclear technlology. Pessimists will be pessimists, we have to move forward.
On one hand people are protesting against massive power cuts, on the other hand when government take some serious steps to eradicate power crisis, handful people create hurdles. Karachi nuclear power plants has enough potential to generate power but its delay will create troubles for the entire economy.
The environmental questions on the building of two nuclear power plants in Karachi are simply instrumental in delaying the project. Interestingly, there are primarily four people who are accusing on the construction against two institutional working bodies Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) and Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority (PNRA). Nuclear Development and Security are the main focused working area of these two governmental bodies. All the employers are specialist in their relative fields and know much better that how to deal with nuclear than any other non-related person of this nuclear field. We are actually making questions on those very nuclear specialists of Pakistan which actually make Pakistan a ‘responsible nuclear weapon state.’
Considering the acute time period where the country is fully drowning and going through acute energy shortfall, this is the right time to support the decision taken by PAEC in the construction and operation of Karachi nuclear power plants. PAEC has an experience of forty years in operating power plants, and previously one nuclear plant is also working in Karachi then why the government and SHC is just looking for the suggestions coming from the evil side. PAEC in collaboration with other nuclear establishments if decided to construct nuclear plants then definitely they have gone through thorough and in-depth analysis and observation of site allocated. These critiques must not be given much space as they are not the well wisher of the country and its people.
This all hearing about Nuclear Power Plants in Karachi must be ended as it’s the need of time to end energy crisis from the country: provides Benefits, Safety and Security. The nuclear plants are a better way to produce electricity. We also need more dams to fulfil our energy needs, but unfortunately, we are not able to build them due to reservation from different sectors of society. The masses and government must realize that putting this important issue of nuclear power generation aside going to cost us a lot.