The Supreme Court on Tuesday said that it is discharging its duties as judicial arm of Pakistan amid the coronavirus crisis.
“The duty to protect the rights of the people is a constitutional obligation of the courts,” a spokesperson of the apex court said on Tuesday, as the crisis threatened a country-wide shutdown of all the activities. “Preventive measures put in place to guard against the coronavirus are being implemented,” the spokesperson affirmed, adding that those over the age of 50 have been advised to work from home. “A screening procedure is being implemented at the entry gates of the top court. Sanitizers have also been installed in the court premises to encourage people to disinfect their hands,” he noted.
The spokesperson underlined that all benches of the Supreme Court will be available to hold proceedings as the federal government mulled shutting down offices to stop the virus. “The top court and the high courts will continue to hold hearings into the important cases,” the spokesperson said, adding that only lawyers should come to the courts, and people should exercise caution in coming to the courts.