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  • CJP takes suo motu notice of police encounters in Punjab

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    • Published in Punjab
    Clean water case: Shehbaz Sharif reaches Supreme Court Clean water case: Shehbaz Sharif reaches Supreme Court

    Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Mian Saqib Nisar took on Sunday a suo motu notice of extrajudicial police encounters in Punjab.

    The chief justice ordered the Inspector General of Police to submit a report in a week on the total encounters conducted in the province.

    Moreover, the chief justice ordered the removal of security barricades from several key sites in the city, including the residences of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

    The orders came as a three-member apex court bench began hearing its suo motu case on several issues of public welfare, including provision of clean drinking water for which Shehbaz arrived at the court's Lahore Registry earlier today. 

    'CM is an awaami aadmi'

    As the hearing went under way, the chief justice took up the issue of security barricades on public property. The court then ordered the authorities to remove the barricades outside Nawaz's Jati Umra residence, Shehbaz's Model Town residence, Governor House, Jamia Al Qadsia, Aiwan-e-Iqbal, and other areas, including Hafiz Saeed's residence and Chouburji.

    When the additional home secretary explained to the court that the barricades have been erected due to security concerns, the chief justice remarked, "I have threats too, you should alert your forces". 

    He remarked that authorities should not keep the chief minister confined at home, observing that the "CM is an awaami aadmi [man of the people], he should say 'Shehbaz Sharif is not scared of anyone'".

    When the chief justice asked Shehbaz if they are right in saying this, the Punjab chief minister replied in the affirmative. 

    Chief Justice Nisar then remarked that the point is not to indulge in politics, adding that all the judiciary and executive need to work together to safeguard public’s rights. He also thanked Shehbaz for appearing in court today. 

    The court ordered the home department officials to assure the court that the barricades will be removed by tonight.  

    CM Punjab summoned

    On Saturday, the court had summoned Shehbaz after expressing displeasure over a Punjab government report which revealed that 540 million gallons of untreated water was being disposed of in Ravi River, a source of drinking water for the city.  

    The provincial chief secretary, home secretary, finance minister, education minister, local government minister and spokesperson are also present in court, as are the heads of the of the anti-corruption department and Punjab Food Authority are also present in court. 

    Provision of justice also important: Rana Sanaullah

    Talking to the media outside the court today, Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah said the provision of justice is as important as provision of clean water, adding that the government will make sure to follow the apex court’s directions on this issue.

    "It is most important for people to have access to basic justice in my opinion," he added. 

    Responding to a question, Sanaullah said "there are some elements misusing the court's remarks for their own cause," adding that remarks which can be used by someone’s opponent for their own benefit should not be made in court proceedings.

    During Saturday's hearing, the chief justice stated that if the court can summon the Sindh chief minister in a similar case in Karachi, why can't it do the same in Punjab. 

    Meanwhile, the court had also directed Punjab Chief Secretary Captain (retd) Zahid Saeed to submit a report on the clean water issue within seven days.

    “If this is happening in Lahore, what will be the situation in other cities of Punjab,” the chief justice wondered, adding that “the chief minister should tell us what he is doing for draining the polluted water”.

    The chief justice is hearing several suo motu cases on issues of public welfare, including exorbitant fees at educational institutes, state of public hospitals and provision of clean water in Lahore and Karachi.