ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar on Thursday sent summons to owners of all the factories operating near the Katas Raj temples in Chakwal to appear before the court on April 20 and clarify their position on the matter.
While hearing the suo motu case of the drying of Katas Raj pond, the three-member bench led by the CJP, warned the owners of factories that arrest warrants would be issued against them if they failed to appear before the court.
Katas Raj Temples is a sacred site for Hindus which has been depleted due to underground water sucked out by the several cement factories around it.
During the hearing, the CJP remarked that the factories have sucked out all the underground water from the temples and the matter has not been resolved in the last three decades. The court held that the matter will be decided by the court if factories remain unable to come up with a solution to the matter.
The counsel for one of the factories informed the court an expert has been hired by them to resolve the issue.
The CJP noted that the factories had still not started using river water instead, despite having issued notices to that effect earlier this year. He said that it was not the desire of the court to drought-like conditions and people suffering from lack of water.
In the end, the CJP directed the cement factories to submit a five-year plan, remarking that if there is a shortage of cement, the matter will be dealt with by the court.
The CJP remarked that no human life will be sacrificed in order for a factory to run, adding that, “a factory can be moved from one place to another an ancestral home cannot be moved”.