LAHORE: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar came down hard on the Punjab chief minister for use of public money for self-projection and sought a comprehensive report from Punjab chief secretary about printing of Shahbaz Sharif’s pictures on laptops and health cards, issued by the provincial authorities.
He took suo motu notice during the hearing of another suo motu about the dumping of polluted water into rivers.
Taking a jibe at Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, the chief justice asked why he should not visit hospitals as “someone has to tend to people of Pakistan if those responsible do not do so.
“State resources cannot be used for personal projection,” Justice Bandial said, adding that the practice would not be allowed to continue.
“Everything revolves around him. Shahbaz Sharif, instead of showcasing works through advertisements, should concentrate on doing concrete work,” he said.
“Why is the Punjab chief minister’s picture being printed on laptops, purchased with the taxpayers’ money,” the CJP commented, expressing his annoyance at political parties utilising public money for their publicity campaigns.
“Why do the pictures of the Punjab CM surface everywhere… even datesheets have Shahbaz’s pictures printed on them,” the CJP remarked after someone presented datesheet of 8th class carrying Shahbaz Sharif’s picture. The courtroom also burst into laughter.
“Government officials are using the money of a nation burdened with debts for self-publicity.”
Chief Justice Nisar emphasised that the political parties must not use the funds allocated for public for their promotional campaigns. This must be done through their own resources, the CJP underlined, noting that virtuous people serve people in secret.
The CJP warned the government officials to mend their ways while they still have time.
“The court is deeply concerned and apprehensive about the increasing national debt,” said Justice Nisar.
The hearing was adjourned after the chief justice ordered the province’s chief secretary to submit a detailed report on the matter, including the total expense incurred on the laptop scheme.
Also, hearing the suo motu notice of release of untreated polluted water into Punjab’s rivers and canals, Chief Justice Saqib Nisar remarked that citizens of Lahore are being exposed to poisonous water.
The PML-N is in power in Punjab for the last 10 years. What it has done in the province? What it has done to tackle the polluted water issue, asks the apex court.
“The provincial government must remember that the court could order the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to investigate the advertisements published by the Punjab government,” Justice Nisar added.
Criticising government’s negligence regarding health, the CJP said billions of rupees were being spent on the Orange Line Train (OLT) project but health of people was being neglected. He said the OLT project was important too, but Shahbaz Sharif and Water and Sanitation Authority officials must answer why health was being neglected.
“Let chief minister come and explain it,” the CJP asked chief secretary, who conceded that nothing tangible had been done by the government to deal with the alarming situation of polluted water being released into rivers. The CJP lamented government’s performance and asked chief secretary to run an advertisement in the media, showing government’s failure to address the issue.
The court, however, abstained from summoning chief minister after chief secretary said the chief minister was unable to come as he was facing some health issues.
“We would not let our people drink polluted water as the issue relates to their lives. The polluted water has also made Lahore canal water poisonous and is destroying ecosystem along the river bank up to 40 kilometres. “Does the government has any remorse for what it has not done?
“Why should I not visit the hospitals? Somebody has to serve people as well. How many times did the chief minister and officials visit hospitals? If people responsible for this work will not do it, somebody else will,” the CJ remarked.
Justice Umar Ata Bandial reiterated that the country had been pushed under heavy debts, while rulers were spending money on advertisements.
“The governments must prioritise things. The court is concerned and fearful of the situation of debts,” he added.
Justice Nisar further inquired about the amount spent on the OLT project and was informed by the chief secretary that Rs180 billion were spent. However, Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan, present in the courtroom, informed it that the total cost of the project touched Rs235 billion mark.
Earlier, the court-appointed commission Ayesha Hamid revealed alarming figures about dumping of untreated polluted water into rivers.
She stated that 540-million-gallon untreated water of Lahore was being thrown into River Ravi on daily basis, while 310-MG water of Faisalabad goes into River Ravi and Chenab.
In Rawalpindi, 96-MG effluent and 162-MG from Gujranwala are poured into rivers untreated.
She said six treatment plants would be installed in Lahore at different places and they would become functional in three to four years time, adding that one plant at Mehmood Booti would cost Rs9 billion. She further said PC-I of the project was underway.
The CJP got angry after hearing it and remarked that who would wait till three years. No one was sure either they would gain power again.
The chief justice ordered submission of PC-I of clean water project in the court by March 23.
The hearing was adjourned till March 31 and CJ ordered for bringing all data on record and making it available online.
