Counter-arguments: PAEC lawyer maintains nuclear power plants are safe
The Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission has assured all precautionary measures have been taken.
KARACHI:
The Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) informed the Sindh High Court (SHC) on Friday that all precautionary measures have been adopted to deal with atomic radiation in case of an emergency at the two proposed nuclear power plants being built in Karachi.
Advocate Anwar Mansoor Khan, who is representing the atomic energy commission, informed a division bench that the issue over the two nuclear power plants has deliberately been created because of the word 'atomic.' Otherwise, the plants are meant to produce atomic energy. He maintained that the two nuclear power plants are completely safe for humans as well as the environment. He claimed that 10 other similar plants can be installed in Karachi through which electricity can be sold at the rate of Rs8 per unit in the province, he claimed.
The lawyer said that the atomic regulatory authority can call the armed forces for help in case of any disaster. The federal government is also in close contact with the provincial and local governments and is ready to provide funds to meet any emergency situation, he added.
Lawyer Anwar Mansoor Khan also objected to the appointment of a senior lawyer, Makhdoom Ali Khan, as amicus curiae to assist the court in deciding the case.
Headed by Chief Justice Maqbool Baqar, the bench adjourned the hearing till December 11 after partially hearing arguments from the PAEC lawyer. Khan was directed to submit his objection to the appointment of the amicus curiae in writing by the next date of hearing.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 7th, 2014.
The Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) informed the Sindh High Court (SHC) on Friday that all precautionary measures have been adopted to deal with atomic radiation in case of an emergency at the two proposed nuclear power plants being built in Karachi.
Advocate Anwar Mansoor Khan, who is representing the atomic energy commission, informed a division bench that the issue over the two nuclear power plants has deliberately been created because of the word 'atomic.' Otherwise, the plants are meant to produce atomic energy. He maintained that the two nuclear power plants are completely safe for humans as well as the environment. He claimed that 10 other similar plants can be installed in Karachi through which electricity can be sold at the rate of Rs8 per unit in the province, he claimed.
The lawyer said that the atomic regulatory authority can call the armed forces for help in case of any disaster. The federal government is also in close contact with the provincial and local governments and is ready to provide funds to meet any emergency situation, he added.
Lawyer Anwar Mansoor Khan also objected to the appointment of a senior lawyer, Makhdoom Ali Khan, as amicus curiae to assist the court in deciding the case.
Headed by Chief Justice Maqbool Baqar, the bench adjourned the hearing till December 11 after partially hearing arguments from the PAEC lawyer. Khan was directed to submit his objection to the appointment of the amicus curiae in writing by the next date of hearing.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 7th, 2014.