CJP provokes Punjab MPs to table NAB like move on SC

LAHORE: Chief Justice Saqib Nisar on Saturday warned the Punjab top bureaucracy to abstain from locking down offices or resorting to protest and asked the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) not to harass anyone.

Hearing several suo motu notices on various public welfare issues, the chief justice, who was heading a three-member bench, observed that no bureaucrat would boycott offices in protest, adding that in return, the NAB should also refrain from causing harassment to anyone.

The chief justice seemed annoyed over the strike of civil servants in favour of Cheema and the resolution of Punjab Assembly against NAB.

He sought the complete record pertaining to the arrest as well as the perks and privileges being enjoyed by Cheema before his arrest in Ashiana Housing scam.

He questioned how the resolution was passed in favour of Cheema in the Punjab Assembly. “In this way, the resolution can [also] be tabled to stop the Supreme Court from summoning someone,” he said.

The chief justice asked on what basis the resolution against NAB was passed in the assembly, adding that table a similar resolution against the top court also. “The political masters and bosses are capable of it,” he said.

The chief justice said whosoever wanted to resign should do so immediately. “Then he would be at liberty to go out on streets to launch a protest campaign against anyone. Service rules of civil servants don’t allow them to launch protest campaign,” he added.

He asked the bureaucrats to stay away from protesting against the arrest of Cheema, stating that no government official shall boycott their offices in protest and the persons summoned by NAB should appear before the anti-corruption watchdog.

Justice Mansoor Ahmad Malik and Justice Ijazul Ahsan were the other members of the bench. Punjab Chief Secretary Zahid Syed and LDA Director General Zahid Akhtar Zaman also appeared before the bench.

During the hearing, the chief justice asked the LDA DG on the process of entering into contracts with private companies for development work since the LDA is to work for them. To which, Zaman said according to the law, LDA was in partnership with six companies.

The chief justice sought the details of owners and shareholders of the six companies. Upon being asked who the DG was when these contracts were made, Zaman said it was Cheema.

He then turned to the chief secretary and asked about Cheema’s income and incentives, to which the chief secretary disclosed that Cheema had been receiving around Rs125,000 as public servant while would be getting nearly Rs 1.4 million from the public sector company’s employment.

At this, the chief justice summoned details of Cheema’s service profile, salary, perks and incentives and the record of Paragon City. The top court also sought the details of Paragon City in connection with the LDA City scam.

The chief justice ordered the FIA to probe into awarding contract for collecting hospital waste to a private person and submit a preliminary report in 15 days.

The three-member bench was hearing the suo motu notice into disposal of medical waste from public hospitals of Lahore as well as falling of untreated water into River Ravi.

The court-appointed commission comprising Ayesha Hamid submitted a report on the matter. She informed that the military hospital of Lahore failed to reply when asked about waste disposal measures. On this, the chief justice sought a report from surgeon general.

When asked, the chief secretary informed the apex court that since 2011, a private company had been outsourced to collect medical waste from the city’s public hospitals.

This irked CJP and he remarked contract of millions of rupees had been dished out to a blue-eyed who was only a matriculate.

The court also asked the environment and health secretaries to cooperate with FIA to probe the matter.

About disposing untreated water into River Ravi, Ayesha said 540 million gallon water was being thrown into river on daily basis. She pointed out Punjab government had decided to install treatment plants on four different points of Lahore.

The chief justice questioned why the government only becomes active in resolving the issue when the courts intervene and remarked they were in the government for 10 years but no one bothered to install plants, adding that health and education were not on the government priority list.

“Instead, millions of rupees are being spent on personal advertisement,” he remarked.

Hearing the suo motu notice on sale of substandard bottled water, the Supreme Court ordered to shut down the companies which are selling substandard product.

The chief justice showed displeasure over non-appearance of court-appointed commission Mustafa Ramday and remarked that he had never come to court to assist it in such an importance issue.

He (Ramday) preferred to stay at chief minister house most of the time, he said, asking the advocate general to ensure his appearance on next date of hearing.

Punjab Food Authority DG Noorul Amin informed the apex court that 1,150 companies were registered in Punjab. Of these, 1,053 were producing bottled water, of which the product of 340 did not adhere to safety standards, he added.

The chief justice asked if the minerals advertised on the water bottles are actually present, and observed that they cannot let their children consume water infected with hepatitis.

Also on Saturday, the Supreme Court turned down a plea moved by some dry-milk manufacturing companies against the condition of printing “it is not milk” on the milk packets, observing that “no compromise on edibles”.

Representing Nestle Company, a lawyer said dry milk was not the alterative of the loose milk but the dry milk was being manufactured with all required nutrients including lactogen 1, while maintaining international standard.

The formula had all ingredients required for children health, the counsel, he argued and added that cows’ loose milk was the source of dry milk and therefore there should be no restriction on printing that it was not milk on the packs.

At this, the CJP observed that milk was the great blessing of God and if the manufacturing companies could not print “it is not milk” on their packs they could put ban on them and order to confiscate their stocks.

“No one can stop us from banning formula milk,” the CJP remarked. “Many children regularly use dry milk and they face problems if the sale of dry packed milk is banned,” he further remarked.

The court sought detailed reply from the respondent company and adjourned further hearing until March 09.

Acting VC of University of Health Sciences Prof Dr Faisal Masood told the Supreme Court that no contamination was found in the samples of broiler chicken’s meat randomly taken from different parts of Lahore.

He stated that the problem was with the unhygienic handling of the meat by chicken sellers. He maintained that the meat was not contaminated.

When asked about the steps taken regarding cleanliness at chicken selling shops, Mengal said strict actions had been taken for the purpose.

The chief justice adjourned the hearing till March 9 and also directed the chief secretary to ensure Dr Masood was not transferred to anywhere as the court direly needed his expertise in such cases. A committee comprising Salman Akram Raja and Uzair Bhandari would submit a report about test carried out of the poultry feed. The bench would discuss that report on next hearing.