ISLAMABAD/LAHORE - The Supreme Court of Pakistan has said that due to rampant corruption in KP, the provincial government has failed to deliver to the masses.

The Supreme Court of Pakistan Wednesday directed Chairman Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (ERRA) to file a comprehensive report on the reconstruction and development in earthquake devastated areas in Khyber Pakhtunkhawa (KP). A three-member bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Gulzar Ahmed conducted hearing of the suo moto case about not constructing the schools in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa destroyed in 2005 earthquake.

During the hearing, the chief justice questioned that when ERRA was established? The chairman of ERRA informed that it was established in October 2005.

Then, Justice Gulzar inquired what the ERRA had been doing since its establishment. He asked that why 540 schools, razed in the earthquake, could not be reconstructed and where the money was spent, received in donation.

The court directed the KP government to reconstruct schools in earthquake affected areas and provide security to schools’ staff.

Advocate General KP informed that the provincial government within two months had reconstructed 148 schools and made them functional. The Chief Justice remarked that what the KP government had been doing in the last 16 years. He asked that how many children gave up their studies due to non-availability of the school buildings.

The Chief Justice further said that they were aware of what kind of school buildings had been constructed. He added that it would endanger the lives of teachers and children.

During the proceeding, the bench was informed that money was demanded from the contractors. Justice Mazhar Alam Khan Miankhel said that the terrorists demanded extortion money from the contractors and also threatened them. He said that many contractors in Bannu and D I Khan stopped the construction work, while the chief secretary is unaware of such incidents.

Justice Miankhel said that it seems the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner had not informed the chief secretary about the threats to the contractors.

Justice Gulzar stated that on the pointation of the bench, he would seek reports from the concerned officials.

He said that for the first time in the history Polio campaign was launched in South and North Waziristan. He informed that in the last one year no new case of polio was reported in Waziristan.

Later, the bench deferred the hearing in the case for one month for further proceedings.