Khawaja Zaheer Ahmed - PDMA

f. Mr. Javed Ahmed Soomro, Reporter ‘Sindh TV’ deposed that his
cameramen were the first to capture the illegal breach of Tori Bund,
much before arrival of the high floods and these self-evident DVDs
were provided to the Registrar Supreme Court, for viewing the
ground situation.
g. Mr. Ali Sher, Chief Reporter ‘Waqt News’, deposed that video
footage provided by the media established clear discrepancies
between the statements of Irrigation authorities including Provincial
Minister regarding breaches and vehemently dispelled the claims of
over-topping, as the prime cause of flooding of human settlements/
crops exposed to excessive waters released as a result of these
breaches.
h. Mr. M.B. Soomro, Reporter ‘The Daily Kaawish’ deposed that
Sindh Irrigation Department did not/could not correctly forecast the
magnitude of approaching waters that inflicted extensive damages;
that at pre-flood stage timely draining out of water from Kenjhar and
Mancher lakes could have decreased damages due to pressure
from excessive flows. He also averred to gauges and dysfunctional
gates at Sukkur Barrage to allege corrupt practices and/or non-
maintenance. It was pointed out that thousands of acres of ‘Kacha’
land was illegally encroached upon by local influentials and
construction of houses and other built-up properties had
aggravated flood hazards. To Mr. Soomro, permitting breach on the
left bank on river Indus below Kotri revealed malafide motives.
i. Sh. Nisar Hussain, Bureau Chief of ‘Apna’ TV Channel, deposed
that Sindh administration was negligent as it did not take
appropriate measures, though the flood waters from Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa (KP) took almost 3 weeks to reach Kotri; he opined
that the possibility that funds sanctioned for maintenance of
embankments and bunds etc. were misappropriated by the
Irrigation staff, in collusion with the contractors could not be ruled
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