–Justice Nisar orders operation be conducted against those who steal water
ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar ordered Punjab Irrigation Department Secretary Syed Ali Murtaza on Sunday to submit a report by January 4 in a case pertaining to alleged water theft by India.
The bench headed by Justice Nisar heard a petition alleging that India had been stealing water from Pakistan via River Ravi and Abasia Link Canal.
“Why is India stealing our water?” the Justice Nisar inquired, asserting, “We will not let India steal Pakistan’s water.”
He added that the court would “not allow water to be stolen from poor farmers from the Abasia Link Canal.” He explained that stealing water from them was “synonymous to sucking their blood”.
In addition, the chief justice questioned Ali Murtaza whether the provincial government was aware of the water theft and what steps had they taken to resolve the issue.
The secretary, Murtaza, replied that water was not being stolen by India, to which the chief justice ordered that an operation be conducted by the Irrigation Department and police against those who steal water.
He cautioned that whoever tries to steal Pakistan’s water shall bear consequences. “We shall lodge complaints against those who exploit us,” the chief justice maintained. He added that Murtaza should tell those in power that this was the top judge’s warning.
