CJP questions govt’s virus response

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Gulzar Ahmed on Wednesday questioned the federal government’s tepid coronavirus response and remarked that no measures were taken to contain the pandemic, as he ruled out halting judicial proceedings amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

During the hearing of a case pertaining to the appointment of Air Marshal Arshad Malik as PIA’s chief executive, the top judge remarked that the coronavirus had entered the country through airports from abroad and it all happened due to the negligence of authorities concerned. Everyone was talking about the coronavirus but no measures were taken to contain the virus, he added.

Justice Ahmed stated thegovernment had not taken any concrete step to curb the spread of coronavirus in the country. “We have been requested to halt judicial proceedings but the courts will not be shut at any cost,” he said. The chief justice further asserted the situation at the quarantine centres in Pakistan was terrible as no facilities were being provided to the patients. The reaction came after the federal government had requested the CJP and chief justices of high courts to avoid hearing civil cases for three weeks due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The law ministry had written to the Supreme Court registrar, informing him about the recent decisions taken at National Security Committee meeting. The officials further urged Justice Ahmed to direct judicial magistrates and Sessions Court judges for visiting jails in the cases pertaining to bails and remands of suspects.

During the hearing, the bench allowed Air Marshal Malik to discharge his duties as the chief executive of the national carrier for a month. The court remarked more people were working in the PIA than its fleet.

The bench, after allowing the current management of the PIA to continue for a month, adjourned the next hearing of the case till April 20 and sought complete details of the contracts being offered by the airline. The court has also summoned Malik to appear before the court in person at the next hearing of the case.