Daily Times

In a suo motu hearing, the Supreme Court on Tuesday expressed displeasure on the Sindh government’s performance to tackle the drought in the province.

The court dismissed the report on child deaths due to malnutrition in Tharparkar, submitted in the court by the Sindh health secretary.

To the court’s question about the government’s inability to deal with the drought, the additional advocate general, who was also present in the court, said a report had been submitted detailing activities undertaken for the purpose. However, the chief justice expressed anger, saying the court sought a solution, not a report.

Justice Nisar also asked the additional advocate general about the wheat sent for the aid of people in Tharparkar, saying grains of sand were found in the sacks. He asked who was responsible to draft a policy against famines and for food security.

MNA Ramesh Kumar was also summoned to the hearing to inform the court about the situation in Tharparkar. He maintained that corruption was rampant in the district, while land of the area was being encroached for coal mining. He said the list of people eligible for food aid contained names of members of assemblies as well.

Further, Kumar said drug peddlers were roaming freely in Tharparkar, while the coal power project was not functional despite its inauguration.

Then, Justice Nisar directed the chief secretary to draft a relevant policy, and provide food and water in Tharparkar on an emergency basis.

He has summoned the advocate general, health, finance and education secretaries in the next hearing scheduled for October 11.

Published in Daily Times, October 10^th 2018.