Supreme Court of Pakistan

Mehar Badshah v. Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa through Chief Secretary and others

Civil Petition No. 524-P of 2015

Citation: PLD 2025 Supreme Court 36; 2024 SCP 372

Article 9Article 9A

Case summary

The judgment in brief

A critical analysis of PLD 2025 SC 36, an early Supreme Court application of Article 9A to deforestation, forest preservation, and governmental accountability.

Question of law

What constitutional responsibility follows from the continuing loss of forest cover after Article 9A expressly guarantees every person a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment?

Holding

What the Court decided

The environment has been placed as a Fundamental Right in the Constitution. Existing dwindling forests must be preserved, efforts should be made to stop deforestation, and effective preservation measures and sustainable environmental practices must be implemented.

Result

Outcome and directions

The matter was disposed of in terms of the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's assurance that it would encourage and implement best sustainable environmental practices.

Precedent record

Authority and later treatment

Publication
Citation recorded: PLD 2025 Supreme Court 36; 2024 SCP 372
Primary source
Primary judgment PDF held in the journal library
Later treatment
No later judicial treatment has yet been editorially verified for this record

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