CJP expresses displeasure on rescheduling dam ceremony without being informed

Dunya News

CJP summoned chief ministers on next hearing for a possible resolution on Nai Gaj Dam.

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - The Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar on Monday expressed displeasure over rescheduling in the groundbreaking ceremony of the Mohmand Dam, and not being informed accordingly, and hinted that he might not participate in it.

The ceremony was rescheduled from from January 2 to January 13.

Meanwhile, the Federal Minister for Water Resources Faisal Vawda offered him an apology on behalf of the government.

Reportedly, the CJP presided over a hearing in the case concerning the construction of the Nai Gaj Dam in Sindh, and subsequently summoned chief ministers of all provinces to appear before the court in the next hearing for a possible resolution on the matter.

“The case has been pending and was being delayed if the court had not considered it,” he said, warning that if the Ecnec meeting was not held in time, the court would summon ministers on a short notice.

The court adjourned the hearing till Friday.

Later, the CJP presided over proceedings of a case on the Diamer-Bhasha and Mohmand dams and issued directives to the chairman of WAPDA for submitting feasibility report and details on the projects.

Besides, he has ordered the Federal Bureau of Revenue (FBR) to examine, and subsequently inform the court whether a tax could be imposed on mobile phone cards for the construction of dams.

“We had suspended collection of tax on mobile phone cards, while many suggested that the amount could have been utilized in the construction of dams,” he remarked, adding that the annual amount was Rs36 billion.

He stated that the required amount could be fetched from taxes.