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SHC Issues Stay on IRSA Water Certificate, Slams Lack of Sindh Representation
Sindh High Court stays IRSA’s water certificate over lack of Sindh rep. Contempt notices issued to federal officials.
ND
by News Desk
2025-04-07
SHC Issues Stay on IRSA Water Certificate, Slams Lack of Sindh Representation

The Sindh High Court (SHC) has issued a stay order against the water availability certificate issued by the Indus River System Authority (IRSA) for the construction of canals, citing the absence of a Sindh representative in the body.

The development came during a hearing of a petition challenging IRSA’s formation and its issuance of the water certificate without full provincial representation. The petitioner’s lawyer, representing Sindh’s farmers, argued that IRSA’s decisions were illegal due to the non-appointment of a member from Sindh.

The court has now sought a reply from the federal government by April 18, and in a serious move, issued contempt of court notices to both the Secretary of the Ministry of Water and Resources and the Federal Secretary of the Establishment Division. The court has summoned both officials to appear in person on May 7.

IRSA had earlier issued a water availability certificate on January 25 to greenlight the construction of Cholistan and Thal Canals, which has now been effectively paused following the SHC’s stay.

Speaking to the media outside court, the petitioner’s lawyer and PPP leader Zameer Ghumro declared, “After this stay order, construction of the canals will not proceed.”

This case touches on long-standing interprovincial water disputes and has now triggered legal scrutiny into the constitutionality of IRSA decisions made in the absence of full provincial representation.

 
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SindhHighCourt

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