Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Mian Saqib Nisar on Saturday warned that any person who attempts to hinder the construction of dams will be tried under Article 6 of the Constitution.<br /><br />A two-judge bench headed by the chief justice heard a suo moto case of mineral water companies using underground water for selling it in bottles at the Supreme Court’s Lahore Registry. A lawyer representing the federal government and Water and Sanitation Authority (WASA) managing director appeared before the bench in relation to the case.<br /><br />As the hearing went under way, the lawyer representing the federal government informed the court, “Mineral water companies are paying the government Rs0.25/litre and selling it at Rs50/litre.”<br /><br />WASA MD added, “Before 2018, mineral water companies were extracting underground water for free.”<br /><br />Justice Nisar then remarked, “Mineral water companies should determine a rate.”<br /><br />“We will have to check if there are any minerals in mineral water,” he added. The chief justice continued, “At home, I boil tap water and drink it.”<br /><br />“Even today, the poor are forced to drink water from ponds,” Justice Nisar said.<br /><br />The chief justice further remarked, “Water is more expensive than gold now and we will not allow its theft.”<br /><br />Justice Nisar said, “Let me tell you one thing, I have no other purpose than to serve the nation.”<br /><br />“I have started studying Article 6 of the Constitution and anyone who attempts to block the construction of dams will be tried under it.”<br /><br />The court then summoned chief executive officers of all mineral water companies and adjourned the hearing of the case till Sunday 11am.<br /><br />Justice Nisar on Friday took suo moto notice of mineral water companies using underground water for selling it in bottles during the hearing of a case pertaining to environmental issues facing the Katas Raj Temple.
