Staff Reporter
Islamabad
The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Tuesday said that the decision regarding reopening of shopping malls, markets across the country was till Eid-ul-Fitr and it will be reviewed after Eid.
The top judge was hearing a suo motu case regarding measures taken to deal with the coronavirus crisis being heard by a five-member bench comprising the CJP, Justices Mushir Alam, Sardar Tariq Masood, Mazhar Alam Khan Miankhel and Qazi Muhammad Amin Ahmed. Initially, the bench included Justices Umar Ata Bandial and Sajjad Ali Shah but they were later replaced by Justices Masood and Alam.
During the hearing, the Attorney General for Pakistan Khalid Javed Khan told the top court that coronavirus cases expected to peak in Pakistan by early June, and people were not taking the Covid-19 threat seriously after the apex court ordered to open shopping malls, markets.
Advocate General Sindh also endorsed the opinion saying the lockdown is no more effective as hairdressers, beauty saloons and all other shops have allowed to open.
At which, Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed stated that the reopening of these shops has nothing to do with SC remarks as police inspectors were permitting businesses to reopen after receiving bribery. “The court gave earlier orders in the wake of Eid season but it will hold another meeting after the occasion,” CJP Gulzar stated. Questioning over the policies of the Sindh govt, the CJP said that the provincial government allowing government offices to reopen, but on the other hand the private offices are still closed. The CJP again expressed dissatisfaction over government’s arrangements in quarantine centres. “People are not getting basic facilities such as running water and clean washrooms in quarantine centres” he said.
Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed said that the top court was not concerned with the money being spent to cope with the coronavirus pandemic but the “quality of services” being provided across the country.
The remarks came a day after the bench, in a written order issued after Monday’s hearing, had said that it was “not at all satisfied” by the report presented by the National Disaster Management Authority, saying that it could “find no reason why so much money is being spent on this coronavirus”.
“There are other serious ailments prevailing in the country, from which people are dying daily and those ailments are not being catered and the coronavirus , which apparently is not a pandemic in Pakistan, is swallowing huge money,” the written order had said.
During Tuesday’s hearing, the chairperson of the NDMA appeared before the court in order to give an explanation of the money being spent to deal with the pandemic. The bench summoned NDMA chief Lt-Gen Muhammad Afzal on the rostrum and discussed the report submitted by the body. The chief justice noted that the report mentioned a company that manufactured personal protective equipment.
“What is Desto Pakistan Army? Is this a private company?” Justice Ahmed asked, adding: “The machinery for this company has been brought through a special plane.”
The NDMA chief explained that Desto (Defence Science & Technology Organisation) was a subsidiary company of Strategic Plans Division Force.
The chief justice inquired if the machinery for Desto was being ordered from a single Chinese company and said that Pakistan only received “third class” material from China. The bench, after questioning NDMA chief, said termed yesterday’s report as “very useful”.
Justice Ahmed raised questions over the condition of quarantine centres saying that “10 people are sitting side by side”.
What kind of quarantining is this?” he inquired, saying that centres did not have clean bathrooms and there was also no water. The chief justice said that “videos of quarantine centres’ poor conditions are being circulated on social media” with residents telling expatriates who wished to return “to die abroad but don’t come to Pakistan”.
He noted that Pakistan was a poor country, saying “We are playing with money and don’t care for the people.”
“Graduates are not being utilised in our country,” Justice Ahmed lamented. “Pakistan has a lot of talent, it should be used.” The attorney general of Pakistan told the court that Pakistan now had the capability to make ventilators. The chief justice said that the country should be self-sufficient in everything, warning that “there will be a time when nothing, including medicines, will be available from abroad”. He further said that all surgical instruments could be made in Pakistan.