Mill owners don’t know about the court’s power: CJP

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar on Friday said that mill owners do not know about the powers of the court and directly play with the lives of the people.

CJP gave these remarks while presiding over a three-member bench of the Supreme Court (SC) during the course of hearing of industrial and environmental pollution case on Friday.

He said, “The issue of environment is directly linked to the lives of people. I will not allow the owners of factories to play with the lives of people.”

CJP Nisar also asked about the steps taken to curb industrial pollution.

Pakistan Environment Protection Agency (EPA) Director General Farzana Altaf Shah told the court that no steps have been taken. “We are not allowed to conduct an inspection,” he said.

“The mill owners have no estimation about the powers of the court. These people are playing with the lives of people directly. We will confiscate their security worth Rs5 million each,” CJP Nisar said.

EPA DG said, “Mill owners have undermined our role as a watchdog.”

“8 per cent markup will be charged to those who have not deposited security.  This entire amount has to go to dam fund,” CJP Nisar remarked.

The court ordered the EPA DG and SC HR Cell director to inspect industrial units in Islamabad and file the report thereof within five days.

“It should be told to us after carrying out the inspection of the industrial zone that how many industrial units are functional and which industrial units have not taken steps for curbing pollution so far,” the top judge directed.

He further said, “A detailed and comprehensive report should be given to us so that the situation could become clear.”

The hearing of the case was adjourned till September 24.