No compromise on air, water pollution, remarks CJP Saqib Nisar

KARACHI – Supreme Court of Pakistan Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar on Wednesday said that no compromise will be made on air and water pollution as it was the matter of people's lives.

The Chief Justice passed the remark while hearing a case regarding the provision of clean water to people of Sindh filed by Advocate Shahab Usto, at Karachi Registry of the apex court.

The three-member bench also summoned former city nazim Mustafa Kamal and Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on December 5 and 6 respectively.

He added that the provincial chief minister will be asked about the actions taken so far to improve the situation. He further said that high officers will be summoned in the case if necessary.

He added that the judiciary should take up the matter when the government failed to perform its duties.

The CJP observed that no one can survive without water and air as these two are the biggest blessing. He said that establishment of different factories was harming the people in Punjab and Sindh, adding that air pollution causing a rise of dangerous diseases including cancer.

Advocate Shahab Usto argued that people in 29 districts across Sindh are forced to drink polluted water. He added “Eighty percent water in Karachi, 85% in Hyderabad, 88% in Larkana and 78 % in Shikarpur is contaminated,” reported Geo News.

Regarding a video filmed by a commission of the apex court while investigating the matter regarding the supply of contaminated water to people, Usto said that why the court should not order the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) to on  air the video.

The petition argued that wastes from hospitals, industries and municipalities are being dumped in rivers of Sindh.

After hearing the arguments, the court has adjourned the case till December 5.

Water Mixed with Human Waste

On July 16, the one-man judicial commission, headed by Sindh High Court's Chief Justice Muhammad Iqbal Kalhoro, was informed by the Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) that the people were being suppleid water mixed with human waste.