ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court affirmed the Peshawar High Court’s ruling on the payment and assignment of alternative land to those displaced by the Tarbela Dam’s construction on Monday, and ordered the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) to find a solution and compensate the victims.
According to the report, the apex court dismissed Wapda’s appeal upon withdrawal against the victims’ claims and affirmed the PHC’s decision on payment of compensation and alternative land to the victims while ruling on Tarbela Dam affectees after 60 years.
A three-member bench of the Supreme Court, chaired by Chief Justice-designate Umar Ata Bandial, announced the ruling.
In his remarks, Justice Bandial stated that Tarbela Dam victims were not entitled to alternate land under the policy.
He inquired of Wapda counsel, “How much land is required to be supplied to 206 [Tarbela dam] affectees?”
Wapda’s counsel responded that 5,000 acres of land were required for the purpose, and the chief justice-designate ordered Wapda to find a way out and pay the victims.
Wapda had also settled things with the Diamer-Bhasha Dam victims, according to Justice Bandial, who noted that Rs0.107 million was insufficient for 12 acres of land.
In light of the PHC directives, the Wapda’s counsel said that the department would review the issue.
Separately, the Supreme Court of Pakistan ordered the secretary of Pakistan Railways to publish an advertisement for club tenders in the Railway Royal Palm Golf Club case.
The Supreme Court ordered a private agency to perform the club’s 2017 audit within two weeks.
The case was considered by a three-member bench of the Supreme Court, led by Justice Bandial.
The chief justice-designate stated during the hearing that the case was brought before the apex court in the public interest.
He claimed that state assets were being misappropriated, and that financial anomalies had surfaced in 2016.
Former CEO Shah Rukh had recruited workers and made decisions on membership and financial matters, according to Justice Ijazul Ahsan. He claimed that the ex-judgments CEO’s revealed Rs96 million in violations.
The court stated that the club’s financial audit results would be considered at a separate hearing.
The railways secretary stated that all preparations for the club’s advertisement had been made, and that a national and international advertisement for the tender would be placed within two weeks.
The railways have submitted their response to the auditor general for violations of Rs96 million, according to the attorney general. He stated that the auditor general’s final opinion on the audit paras was required.
The hearing was continued indefinitely after the judge instructed a private audit company to conduct the club’s 2017 audit in two weeks, as well as ordering the publication of an advertisement for the case.
The case was postponed for an indeterminate period of time.
