Judicial commission proceedings start today with new judge at the helm

With former Supreme Court judge Justice (Retd) Amir Hani Muslim appointed as the new head, the judicial commission probing Sindh’s water supply and sanitation issues will restart proceedings from Saturday (today).

On Friday, the commission issued notices to the provincial irrigation secretary and the heads of the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) and other civic and land owing agencies of Karachi and Hyderabad to file reports on measures taken to improve water and sanitation conditions in their respective jurisdictions. The reports are to be submitted at Saturday’s hearing.

The respondents have been directed to file concise statements containing necessary details regarding efforts made for provision of potable water and improvement in sanitary conditions of their respective areas.

The notices were issued to the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation commissioner, the Defence Housing Authority administrator, KWSB chairman, the Karachi Development Authority’s head, and the chief executive officers of the Clifton, Karachi, Faisal, Malir and Korangi cantonment boards.

Other respondents include the Sindh Environmental Protection Agency, Karachi Port Trust chairman, director general of the Civil Aviation Authority, the managing director of the SITE Association, Pakistan Railways, Water and Sanitation Agency, Hyderabad, and the Hyderabad Development Authority.

New head

The Supreme Court has appointed Justice (Retd) Amir Hani Muslim as the head of the commission for a period of six months to ensure implementation of measures required to provide Sindh’s people clean drinking water, effective waste management systems and better sanitary conditions.

Issuing a detailed order on identical petitions filed against water supply issues and environmental pollution in coastal areas due to industrial waste dumping, a three-member SC bench headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar observed that the apex court had carefully read the report prepared by and recommendations made by the commission’s first head, Justice Mohammad Iqbal Kalhoro.

The court said the report proposed that implementation of the commission’s recommendations would only be possible with constant monitoring; a former judge of the apex court should be appointed and granted powers to implement/enforce the recommendations.

In view of this, the SC appointed Justice (Retd) Muslim and observed that the commission would be entitled to all the perks and privileges as provided to a SC judge, which shall be paid by the Sindh government, excluding the judicial and house rent allowances.

The court directed the Sindh government to provide suitable staff and transport facilities as well as security to the judge. It said the commission shall have all powers to issue directions for implementation of the recommendations.

The SC observed that in case any directives falling within the mandate of this order were not implemented, the commission shall refer the matter to the apex court for appropriate orders. Moreover, implementation of orders passed by the commission would be subject to ratification by the SC.