Cutting of glaciers: Federal, provincial govts issued notices to submit replies

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Tuesday issued notices to federal and provincial governments in a writ petition seeking formulation of tough laws against the illegal cutting of glaciers and its subsequent harm effects on the climate in Malakand and Hazara divisions.

The court also directed the deputy commissioners of respective districts to submit replies in the instant case.A division bench of the PHC comprising Justice Shakil Ahmad and Justice Fazal Subhan heard the petition filed by climate activist and lawyer Tariq Afghan.

Counsel for the petitioner Sajeed Afridi advocate informed the bench that this petition had been filed in the best public interest as rampant harvesting of glacial ice was going on in Malakand and Hazara division. He pleaded that the illegal practice of glacier cutting would have severe harm effects on the environment and habitats in the regions of Dir, Chitral, Swat, Shangla, Kaghan, Naran and others.

The lawyer also said that the petitioner had already approached the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) seeking a probe into illegal harvest of glacial ice across the province and prosecute those responsible.

He said that these activities were in direct violation of the environmental protection statutes and regulations governing KP and pose a significant threat to the whole ecosystem, as glacier and their melt water create unique habitats for various species of plants, animal and microorganism, also a prime source for agriculture in the above mentioned areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He pleaded that KP was home to around 3,050 glaciers, which were primarily located in its northern regions and were vital for the region’s water resources and ecological balance. The lawyer said that the unauthorised cutting of glaciers constituted a clear violation of the environmental protection laws and regulations in force within KP. He prayed the court that those actions required immediate investigation and enforcement of the relevant legal penalties against the perpetrators.