The Supreme Court’s constitutional bench expressed displeasure over the performance of governments in the rehabilitation of victims of the 2005 earthquake, and demanded a comprehensive progress report from the federal and provincial governments.
During a hearing presided over by Justice Aminuddin Khan, the six-member bench expressed severe dissatisfaction over the authorities’ prolonged delays and poor performance in resettling the affected individuals and questioned who was responsible for the delay in the victims' rehabilitation.
Justice Hassan Azhar Rizvi noted that 19 years have passed since the earthquake, during which children have grown into adults, and adults have aged without seeing meaningful rehabilitation. The court asked what steps the authorities had taken so far for the rehabilitation of the victims.
Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhel raised concerns about the allocation of forest land for housing projects, arguing that if reconstruction had been carried out in the earthquake-affected areas or monetary aid provided directly to the victims, they could have rebuilt their homes themselves.
Justice Musarrat Hilali, recalling the devastation she witnessed first-hand in the aftermath of the earthquake, lamented that despite promises and statements, the victims remain in dire straits. She criticized the authorities for failing to deliver practical solutions, leaving victims in prolonged suffering.
Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan pointed to the departments' poor governance and lack of cooperation as major factors behind the delays in rehabilitation of victims. He argued that if departments fulfilled their duties, such cases would not end up in courts.
He further remarked that the rehabilitation of the earthquake victims was meant to be done with the cooperation of the federal and provincial governments. "Natural disasters cannot be avoided but can be fought," he said.
Justices Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Aminuddin Khan directed the authorities to provide a detailed report, including the number of individuals affected by the earthquake, the number of houses built for the victims, the performance of the federal and provincial governments in the rehabilitation, the total funds received for rehabilitation efforts, and how they were spent.
