ISLAMABAD:
The Supreme Court (SC) has taken exception over the reluctance of provincial governments, relevant ministries and attached departments to submit reports in the case of unauthoriseddiversion of floodwaters by influential people to protect their lands.
During Wednesday’s hearing, the court observed that failing to submit reports before the court shows that the respondents have nothing to validate their defence in the case and are not interested in the matter.
So far, only Balochistan, Prime Minister’s Secretariat and the cabinet division have filed their compliance reports before the court. The court directed the other provinces to file their reports.
Punjab Advocate-General Khwaja Haris submitted before the court that the province is preparing its report and it will soon be presented before the court. The Sindh advocate-general said that the report has been prepared but it cannot be made public.
Meanwhile, the additional advocate-general of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, one of the provinces worst-hit by the flood, submitted that as there was no complaint against the province, there is no need for it to submit a report. However, the CJP rejected this stance and observed that the flood caused much destruction to the province and so it should also submit a report.
The court directed all remaining respondents to file their reports before the court by Friday and adjourned the hearing till December 9.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 2nd, 2010.
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