Will not allow PM, CM to act against Constitution, says SC

KARACHI: The Supreme Court (SC) on Wednesday observed that the judiciary does not want to interfere in the affairs of the executive but would also not overlook denial of fundamental rights to citizens and if necessary the prime minister, chief minister or other state functionaries will be called for their enforcement.
Hearing a petition regarding provision of clean drinking water and safe environment to the people of Sindh, the SC’s three-member bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar, observed that powers were given to the executive for serving the people. It observed that the judges had taken oath to secure the democratic process but it was also their duty to protect the fundamental rights of citizens and the judiciary would not allow denial of the fundamental rights of citizens.
The bench observed that the court was willing to support the provincial government for redressing the grievances of the people adding that they had to be resolved without any delay. The court asked Chief Minister Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah to give the time-frame as to when the issue of clean potable water and sewerage will be resolved. Justice Faisal Arab observed the court does not want to perform the duties of executive but people move courts when their grievances are not addressed by executive. The court observed that corruption has become a menace for the society and it would be overcome only when everyone pledges to work honestly.
A video on judicial commission’s visits to different water supply and drain sites was screened in the presence of chief minister Sindh that showed how the untreated raw municipal and industrial sewage are polluting water bodies and how the dangerous hospital waste was being disposed. After watching the video, the chief justice said that he is speechless and observed that Pakistan People’s Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto should also see the plight of his party voters in Larkana.
The court observed that these are not adversarial proceedings and the main object is to help enforce people’s fundamental rights. The court observed that it is painful that people of Sindh as well as other parts of the country do not have access to clean drinking water. At this, the chief minister Sindh said that the video was prepared by the petitioner and painted a very bleak picture of the government’s performance and requested the court to allow him to show another video to prove the government’s efforts at trying to overcome contamination. The court observed that the Sindh government did not object to the judicial commission’s report and its recommendations, and said no order will be passed without hearing the point of view of the government. The court observed that the CM was invited to the court keeping in view the seriousness of the issue. The court observed that the proceedings will continue until people get clean water.