ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed on Monday rebuked the federal government over its measures to contain the coronavirus, declaring that “nothing is being done on ground”.
The apex court chief is currently hearing an appeal against the verdict announced by the Islamabad High Court (IHC), directing the government to grant bail to low-risk, under-trial prisoners (UTPs) during the pandemic.
At the outset of the hearing, the chief justice said that the government had closed the Out Patient Departments (OPDs) of all hospitals, leaving no place for patients to seek treatment at such a crucial time.
“Hospitals have been closed when we need them. Up till now, 10 hospitals with 1,000 beds each should have been made operational,” he said.
“Everyone is talking about funds, no one is doing anything. The public has been left at the mercy of God,” he remarked. The chief justice also criticised the government’s efforts to encourage people to stay indoors in order to curb the spread of the disease.
Yesterday, senior lawyer Khawaja Haris had urged the top court to reconsider its decision of revoking IHC ruling. In a set of recommendations submitted to the apex court, Haris said that the IHC had announced the verdict in line with the law due to the ongoing crisis.
He had said that it is imperative that measures are taken to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
THE CASE:
Last week, the SC had suspended orders issued by the high courts relating to the release of UTPs amidst the coronavirus outbreak.
In its order, the top court said: “No further order shall be passed by any of the high courts and by any of the provincial governments/ICT/Gilgit-Baltistan of releasing the prisoners from the jails.”
In a previous hearing, the IHC had ordered the release of 24 suspects under trial for various corruption-related references filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).
Earlier, the IHC had ordered the issuance of bail for prisoners who were facing trial for minor crimes to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. IHC Chief Justice Minallah had issued the order after hearing a case regarding 1,362 prisoners incarcerated in crowded jails.
More to follow
