SC summons chief minister over untreated effluent disposal issue

LAHORE: The Supreme Court (SC) Saturday summoned Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday to know about the steps taken to address the issue of untreated effluent being discharged into rivers.

The SC bench, headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, passed these orders while hearing a suo motu notice regarding provision of clean drinking water here at the Supreme Court Lahore Registry.

Earlier, amicus curie Ayesha Hamid advocate submitted a report regarding the disposal of the effluent. She was tasked by the court on January 20 to prepare a report on disposal of effluent in five big cities, including Lahore, Faisalabad and Multan.

Ayesha Hamid claimed that some 540 million gallons of untreated effluent of Lahore was being discharged into the Ravi river.

Upon this, the chief justice observed that the Sindh chief minister was summoned by the court over the same issue and he gave certain assurance.

After asking Punjab Chief Secretary Capt (retd) Zahid Saeed to find out when the chief Minister could appear, the court directed the chief minister to appear on February 11.

The court also observed that it would also ask the chief minister about the blockade of the road leading to his camp office and a house in Model Town.

Earlier, Inspector General of Police Punjab Arif Nawaz Khan briefed the bench that the road leading to chief minister's camp office and house had been closed due to security reasons, as he had serious threats.

However, the chief justice observed that how the road could be closed for security reasons and an explanation in that regard would also be sought from the chief minister on February 11.