The federal government has requested the Supreme Court to release Rs20 billion deposited in the Dam Fund, 24NewsHD TV Channel reported.

The government made this request to the SC during the hearing of the Diamer-Bhasha and Mohmand Dam Fund case that was heard by a four-member larger bench led by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa on Wednesday.

Additional Attorney General Aamir Rehman, representing the federal government, stated that a separate application had been filed, requesting that the dam fund money be allocated to the federation and WAPDA.

He explained that the State Bank had opened the dam fund account under the supervision of the Supreme Court.

Chief Justice Qazi Faiz Isa inquired about the amount currently in the dam fund and asked how the case initially started.

WAPDA's lawyer, Saad Rasool, informed the court that approximately Rs 20 billion were in the dam fund, and the Supreme Court had taken suo motu notice in 2018.

He added that the Dam Fund Implementation Bench had conducted 17 hearings on the matter.

Chief Justice Isa questioned whether the Supreme Court oversees every WAPDA project.

In response, the WAPDA lawyer noted that disputes between private parties regarding dam construction had also been brought to the Supreme Court instead of relevant courts, and he requested that these disputes be directed to the appropriate judicial forums.

The Supreme Court has called for the relevant records of the case to proceed further.

Reporter: Amanat Gishkori