CJP hails environment clause in 26th Amendment

ISLAMABAD: Outgoing Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa on Thursday lauded the inclusion of the clause of environmental protection in the 26th Constitutional Amendment.

The CJP was heading a three-member bench hearing a matter related to protection of forests in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). During the hearing, while lauding the inclusion of a clause in the Constitution on environmental protection, Justice Isa observed that by inserting a clause in the amendment, protection of natural environment would be ensured.

The KP additional advocate general told the court that it had been mentioned in Article 9 A of the 26th Constitutional Amendment that every citizen had the right to a healthy environment.

The chief justice said that it had been scientifically proven that good health of nations depends on a good environment, while Islam also advocates a clean environment and highlighted its importance as well. He observed that forests, rivers and streams were affected by a polluted environment and it had been becoming difficult to live in many cities due to the environmental pollution. Later, the court disposed of the case

Meanwhile, a Full Court Reference will be held today (Friday) in Courtroom No 1 of the Supreme Court on the eve of retirement of CJP Isa. The full court reference would be attended by all the Supreme Court judges and the chief justice would address on the occasion. After the Full Court Reference, the Supreme Court will give a reception (luncheon) in honour of the outgoing chief justice.

It was learnt that Justice Isa along with other apex court judges as well as Chief Justice-designate Yahya Afridi would also inaugurate the under-construction monument of fundamental rights on the premises of the court.

Meanwhile, Justice Qazi Faez Isa attended a function organised in his honour by a lawyers organisation on Thursday night.

Chief Justice-designate Yahya Afridi, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, Justice Aminuddin Khan, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail, Justice Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi, Justice Irfan Saadat, Justice Mussarat Hilali, Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Justice Aqeel Abbasi, ad hoc Judge Justice Sardar Tariq and Justice Mazhar Alam Mian Khel, Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Amer Farooq, Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, Justice Mian Gul Hasan, Justice Arbab Tahir and Lahore High Court Chief Justice Alia Neelum also participated in the ceremony.