Zubair Qureshi
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) Friday directed the Secretary Cabinet Division, Special Assistant to Prime Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Zulfi Bukhari and Special Assistant to PM on Health Dr Zafar Mirza to hold a meeting with parents of the students stuck in China due to Coronavirus epidemic.
A single bench of IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah issued these directions while hearing petitions, which sought appropriate measures from government including constitution of medical board and detention of passengers coming from China to stop the spread of Coronavirus in Pakistan.
During the hearing, an official of the Foreign ministry informed the court that they had set up a committee to provide assistance to the parents.
At this, Justice Athar Minallah remarked all the work could not be done by the director general of the foreign ministry.
The chief justice said to the officials present in the court that parents were constantly complaining that the government was not listening to their concerns. He further said that it was not the responsibility of the foreign ministry to resolve the problem rather it is the federal cabinet’s responsibility.
The additional attorney general then said they should wait for the cabinet’s decision on the matter while the foreign office official also told the court that the Chinese government is expected to release a new report on which the cabinet would make a decision.
Justice Athar remarked that it was the government’s responsibility to decide about Pakistani students who are trapped in Wuhan as the ‘situation is serious’. The parents informed the court that there was a “clear difference” in the stance of the government and the students trapped in China. They said that the government is not giving them any answer.
At this the IHC CJ remarked that the government should satisfy the parents on the measures they have taken. He added that this is a serious situation and the government of Pakistan needs to make a decision on this.
After issuing the aforementioned directions, the bench deferred hearing in this matter till March 6.
The petitioner Tariq Asad has prayed to the court to constitute a high level Medical Board comprising of specialists in the field who are independent from political pressure to look into the matter and take necessary measures.
He also requested the court to issue directions for detaining any passenger landing at any airport in Pakistan from China directly or indirectly from other airport and keeping them in quarantine for a reasonable time until they are proven to be virus free.
The petitioner further prayed to the court to evacuate the Pakistani students or others from China only until they are proven to be virus free and restrain the Pakistanis living in China studying or doing any job not to leave China till further decision to be taken by the respondents.
