Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) Managing Director Khalid Sheikh on Monday alleged that "certain state departments" force the KWSB officials to supply extra water to "cantonment areas by taking the staff hostage at gunpoint".

During a hearing of the Supreme Court-mandated water commission headed by retired Justice Amir Hani Muslim, Sheikh said, "The hydrant at Shah Faisal Colony is shut down in order to supply extra water to Pakistan Air Force (PAF) base".

He claimed that the pumping station at Karsaz is operated in a similar manner.

The KWSB MD told the water commission that on Sunday a few armed men, reportedly belonging to a state department, forced the KWSB staff to shut down the Shah Faisal Colony hydrant. His claim was seconded by pumping station's in charge Khalid Farooqi, who said that the armed men "shut down the hydrant, cursed and beat him".

Farooqi also claimed that he was kidnapped by the armed men who "took him on a drive" and later released him.

Sewage disposal in DHA

The water commission also slammed Defence Housing Authority (DHA) secretary and Cantonment Board's chief operating officer for failing to develop a proper system for sewage disposal in Karachi's most affluent housing society.

Even though the DHA secretary tried to assure the commission that the sewerage pipes for the restaurants built on Karachi's Sea View were being directed towards Phase VI, he could not convince the judge.

"The restaurants built along the beach are located such that all their waste falls into the sea which becomes a source of disease," the judge said. He ordered the authorities to solve the problem of sewage disposal in the "holy month of Ramazan or the commission would order to shut down all restaurants along the beach".

"The DHA secretary will be responsible if the waste from any of the restaurants falls into the sea," the Justice Hani maintained.

The commission gave authorities a two-month deadline to lay down sewerage pipes for restaurants built at the beach.

Opinion

Editorial

Ultimate price
Updated 02 Nov, 2024

Ultimate price

To dismantle culture of impunity for crimes against journalists, state must ensure that perpetrators do not go unpunished.
Mastung bombing
02 Nov, 2024

Mastung bombing

INSTABILITY continues to haunt Balochistan, as Friday morning’s bombing in Mastung has shown. At least nine...
Plane speak
02 Nov, 2024

Plane speak

DESPITE all its efforts to facilitate PIA’s privatisation, it seems the government only ended up being taken for a...
Seeking investment
Updated 01 Nov, 2024

Seeking investment

Foreign visits will be fruitless unless crucial structural, policy reforms directly affecting investors are focused.
State-backed terror
01 Nov, 2024

State-backed terror

OVER the past year or so, India’s reportedly malign activities in foreign countries have increasingly come under the radar, with
Shared crisis
01 Nov, 2024

Shared crisis

WITH Lahore experiencing unprecedented levels of smog, the Punjab government has announced a series of “green...