–Top judge says entire nation protector of dams fund
ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar on Thursday returned to Pakistan from his visit to the United Kingdom where he led a fundraising campaign for the Diamer-Bhasha and Mohmand dams.
On November 21, CJP Nisar arrived in Britain to attend the first event of the campaign at Lincoln’s Inn in London. This was followed by an event organised by the ‘Centre for Policy Dimensions’ on November 22.
The top judge was welcomed by Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Special Assistant Aneel Musarrat, additional advocate general and a few other government functionaries at the Heathrow Airport. He had then attended a fundraising dinner in Manchester, organised by Musarrat. On the same day, a record amount of Rs360 million was raised for the construction of the dams at the live telethon. This was followed by another event on November 25 and a ceremony of the World Congress and Overseas Pakistanis on November 26, where CJP Nisar met community members.
Earlier on Thursday, as he boarded his returning flight to Pakistan, he told reporters at the airport that he will be grateful to the overseas Pakistanis for their contributions to the construction of dams. He added that though he had initiated the fundraising scheme, the entire nation is its upholder. “I will always remember the love shown by overseas Pakistanis,” he said, adding that the Pakistani Diaspora showed utmost affection to the cause and they were extremely generous in the campaign by donating huge sums in the fundraising campaign which he was not expecting.
On November 23, speaking at a fundraising event in the UK, he had expressed that the construction of these dams was unquestionable as no obstacles will be allowed to impede with the process. He had also related to the audience that there were rumours that the provinces could not reach a consensus on the construction of Kalabagh Dam and it had the potential to cause rifts among the different communities. However, he had added, all are in favour of the Diamer-Bhasha and Mohmand dams. Later, he put up the question, “Why Diamer-Bhasha and Mohmand dams should not be constructed?”
“There is a burgeoning water crisis in Pakistan that needs to be addressed. This is why several dams are to be constructed on River Indus and no one shall be allowed to create hurdles in the construction,” he had added.