The Supreme Court on Monday observed that Prime Minister Imran Khan’s cabinet has become ineffective in the fight against coronavirus pandemic, and asked the federal government to remove Dr Zaraf Mirza as special assistant to prime minister on national health services.
A five-member larger bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed and comprising Justice Umar Ata Bandial, Justice Mazhar Alam Khan Miankhel, Justice Sajjad Ali Shah and Justice Qazi Muhammad Amin Ahmed heard a suo motu case related to the situation arising out of the coronavirus crisis and the steps being taken by the federal government to curb the spread of the epidemic. During the hearing, the chief justice remarked that the government has not done anything at this point to stem the spread of the virus. “There is an army of ministers and advisors in place but no work is being done,” he observed, and remarked that ‘corrupt people’ have been kept as advisors in the government.
Attorney General Khalid Javed Khan said that such observations by the apex court would ‘only cause harm’. To this, the CJP replied that he is very careful in passing such remarks.
The CJP noted that larger size of cabinet means that PM doesn’t know anything. He asked AGP Khalid Javed Khan that why Zafar Mirza was not removed. Responding to the CJP’s comments regarding dismissing Mirza, Attorney General Khalid Jawed Khan said removing the PM’s aide at this point and time would be disastrous. “Do not change him mid-flight,” he said, urging the court to leave the matter up to the federal government.
However, no written order was issued by the court on the removal of the SAPM.
Expressing dismay over the government performance to control coronavirus, the apex court noted that there is a lack of leadership that could maintain unity in the country. The CJP also wondered why a parliament session is not being called in prevailing situation. The AGP assured the bench that he will convey the court’s concerns to the PM during a high-level meeting on COVID-19.
The court also took the Sindh government to task over the decision to cordon off 11 union councils, observing that there were no arrangements in place to provide the people with food and medicines. The court directed the Sindh government to present a report regarding ration distribution in the province.
The bench also set aside Punjab government’s directive for obtaining corona clearance certificate before entering the province.
The hearing was adjourned till Monday (April 20).
Earlier on April 10, the CJP took his first suo motu notice since assuming the charge as the country’s top judge on the situation arising out of the coronavirus crisis and the steps being taken by the federal government to curb its spread. The development came after Justice Gulzar had expressed displeasure over the federal government’s measures to curb the coronavirus spread. “The government is just calling in meetings whereas no work is being done on the ground,” he had remarked while hearing a petition filed against the Islamabad High Court (IHC) verdict in regard to releasing under trial prisoners in view of Covid-19 fears.
