ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) on Wednesday directed the federal government to complete within two years the rehabilitation and up-gradation of the Karachi-Lahore Peshawar (ML-1) Railway track (1,872kms) besides completing Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) within three months.
A three-member bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed and comprising Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Sajjad Ali Shah, resumed hearing into a case related to huge financial deficits of the Railways.
The court warned of dire consequences if its order was not complied with in letter and spirit and the ML-1 project was not made fully operation in the stipulated time.
It is pertinent to mention here that Minister for Railways had told the court that the project will be completed within five years. According to the website of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the scope of the project is to double entire track from Karachi to Peshawar, speed of passenger trains to be raised from 65/110 km/h to 160 km/h, freight trains to operate at 120 km/h, computer-based signaling and control system and grade separation to ensure safety of train operations.
On Wednesday, the court also directed to clear the five kilometers of Karachi Circular Railway’s land from the encroachers and make the infrastructure functional within a period of three months and in this respect, help of Rangers and police could be sought as well.
In pursuance of the court last order, Minister for Planning Asad Umar and Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid Ahmed appeared before the court.
Asad Umar submitted before the court that the infrastructure will be upgraded by the Sindh government. At this, the chief justice observed that the Sindh government is not delivering, asking the minister to ensure smooth functioning of the Railway system. Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid Ahmed than pleaded the court that the funds given to Sindh Railways should be given to them.
The chief justice, however, told Sheikh Rashid Ahmed to refrain from any step, which is illegal and unconstitutional. “We will not take any step, which is not in accordance with law and constitution,” Sheikh Rashid replied.
Meanwhile, Minister for Planning Asad Umar contended before the court that it is not possible to meet deadline given by the apex court with regard to the functioning of the Karachi Circular Railway and requested the court to reconsider it.
The chief justice, however, observed that now it’s time to deliver instead of discussing it. “If the government cannot ensure it, we will close the railways”, the CJP remarked.
The chief justice further observed that China has ensured establishment of a 1,000-bed hospital in only 10 days to which Asad Umar replied that ML-1 project is also to be accomplished by China. The chief justice then said that the Chinese company will complete it in two months.
At the outset of the hearing, The chief justice asked Sheikh Rashid Ahmed that the report submitted before the court did not mention time of clearing the Karachi Circular Railway track.
The federal minister while thanking the court submitted that a lot of work has been done in 12 days to which the chief justice also thanked the minister, saying the whole nation is thankful to him.
“This is the project of the whole nation and not an individual”, the CJP remarked. Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said that last night they had also conducted an operation, adding that there is a severe resistance on the issue of the Karachi Circular Railways, adding that they had erased the buildings. He said that the government of Sindh is cooperating in the task, adding that 85 percent of the track for the KCR has been cleared.
The chief justice observed that the task could be accomplished if the minister might sell out some properties of railways in Lahore or in Karachi. Sheikh Rashid replied that even the issue could be resolved by selling a single property in Karachi, however, he submitted that the apex court had restrained from doing so.
During the course of proceedings, Minister for Planning Asad Umar submitted before the court that they will hand over the Railways the PC-1 of ML-1 project by the end of this month.
The federal minister for planning further submitted that the instant project will also be approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council by April 15. “We are working day and night for the development of the country”, Asad Umar said to which the chief justice said that they are also working day and night.
Meanwhile, the court adjourned the hearing of the Karachi Circular Railway Project for February 21 while the matter related to huge financial deficits of the Railways was adjourned for two months.
