Supreme Court Asks for Progress Report on 2005 Earthquake Victims’ Rehabilitation

Islamabad: In the ongoing case regarding the rehabilitation of the victims of the October 2005 earthquake, the Supreme Court’s constitutional bench has directed the federal and provincial governments to submit a detailed progress report. The six-member bench, headed by Justice Ameenuddin Khan, questioned the delay in the rehabilitation process and sought answers regarding the responsible parties for the holdup.
Justice Hassan Rizvi remarked that it has been 19 years since the earthquake struck, and many of the affected individuals have either grown older or their children have reached adulthood. He inquired about the actions taken by authorities to address the rehabilitation of the victims.
Justice Jamal Mandokhel raised concerns about the allotment of forest land for reconstruction purposes. He argued that rather than focusing on government-led construction projects, the authorities should have simply provided financial assistance to the victims, allowing them to rebuild their homes independently. “Had the government provided the funds, the victims could have already rebuilt their homes by now,” he stated.
Justice Musarrat Hilali, who had personally witnessed the devastation in the earthquake-hit areas, expressed frustration, stating that aside from discussions, no significant progress had been made in the rehabilitation efforts.
Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan pointed out that the recovery of the earthquake victims was supposed to be a joint effort between the federal and provincial governments. He blamed poor governance and lack of cooperation between departments for the prolonged difficulties faced by the victims. “If the departments performed their duties, such cases would not have to reach the courts,” he observed.
Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar questioned the extent of the damage caused by the earthquake, asking how many houses had been built for the victims so far and what actions had been taken by the government at the federal and provincial levels for rehabilitation.
Justice Ameenuddin Khan demanded a comprehensive report on the funds allocated for the rehabilitation of the victims, asking for details on how the funds were spent and the results achieved.
Supreme Court Orders Report on Deforestation and Encroachments
In another matter, the constitutional bench also sought a report from the federal and provincial governments regarding the ongoing deforestation and encroachments on forest land. Justice Ameenuddin Khan emphasized that forest land should not be allocated for other purposes, particularly for private projects.
Justice Jamal Mandokhel highlighted the issue of encroachments and illegal constructions in areas such as the Margalla Hills, pointing out that a large mafia, in collusion with government officials, was responsible for the illegal occupation and deforestation of these areas.
The court asked the authorities to provide an update on the measures taken to curb illegal deforestation, the extent of encroachment, and the steps taken to reclaim forest land.