The Supreme Court on January 9, 2019 had constituted a special committee comprising two directors of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and an official of the Supreme Court to explore avenues for the investment of the fund. It also formed implementation bench for the supervision of the development on the dams' construction.
Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed, heading the bench, said that after discussing the options in the chambers, they would pass an order. The larger bench was hearing the implementation of the Supreme Court directives to Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA), Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), and Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) regarding dams' construction.
Earlier, Attorney General for Pakistan Anwar Mansoor Khan said that despite the apex court's order dated 09-01-2019 the media again started campaign to discredit the dams' project. "A smear campaign has been launched against Wapda officials and the company (Descon)," he said.
Justice Azmat inquired about the action the Pemra has taken against the TV channels. The AGP said that Pemra has imposed a fine of up to Rs 100,000. He also said that anchorperson Muhammad Malick conducted a similar programme on HUM News, which anchorperson Gharida Farooqi had done on G News. The contents of Malick's programme were almost identical to Gharida Farooqi's TV show.
The bench, therefore, directed Pemra to provide a CD along with the transcripts of the programme so that they could see whether or not it was a deliberate policy. "Same contents were repeated in that programme [Malick's]," said the AGP. Justice Ijaz asked the AGP whether those should have been countered, adding that some media houses wish to jeopardise the national project.
However, Justice Azmat said: "We [SC] can't be the spokesman for Wapda or the federal government." He said there could be three situations: first, freedom of expression; secondly, something aired on TV channels, which was not done diligently; and the third one is a deliberate attempt.
Justice Faisal Arab asked the AGP that they [Wapda] would have to face the criticism, adding if fake news are circulated then the court will take action.
At the outset of proceedings, Advocate Saad Rasool representing Wapda said that the work on Diamer-Bhasha Dam and Mohmand Dams is ongoing as per schedule and the contractors have been mobilised.
He said that the federal government under PSDP programme has provided Rs 17 billion and the Wapda is trying to arrange foreign funds that would be possible in next 18 months. Negotiations with the foreign consortium and consultants would be completed by the end of this month, he added.
Dr Parvez Hassan, who was appointed as amicus curiae, requested the bench to allow him to recuse from this case as he had been associated with Descon Engineering Limited. The bench accepted his request.