Daily Times

According to the notice, the step was taken in view of the inadequate measures put in place by the authorities at hospitals to fight coronavirus pandemic.

A five-member large bench of the Supreme Court will conduct the hearing regarding the suo motu notice on April 13 (Monday).

Notices have been issued to the Attorney General of Pakistan, federal health and interior secretaries, advocate generals and chief secretaries of the four provinces, chief commissioner Islamabad and chief secretary Gilgit Baltistan.

On April 1, the same five-member bench, comprising the chief justice, Justice Umar Ata Bandial, Justice Mazhar Alam Miankhel, Justice Sajjad Ali Shah and Justice Amin Ahmed, had also heard the matter of the release of under-trial prisoners amid the virus’ outbreak. A petition had been filed against the prisoners’ release ordered by the Sindh and Islamabad high courts.

“Under what law can suspects and accused be released?” the CJP had asked while hearing arguments. He noted that it was already very difficult to arrest the accused in cases.

“The police are already busy with the coronavirus emergency. How can we let criminals be out on the roads as well?” he had asked.

He said robberies have already started taking place in Karachi soon after the release of prisoners. The due process of law will have to followed before such a thing can be allowed, the chief justice had ruled.

Meanwhile, advocate Usama Khawar who had earlier filed a constitutional petition on the similar issue wondered why his petition was not fixed for hearing.

So far, 4,688 cases of Covid-19 have emerged in Pakistan, most of which have been detected in Punjab.

In view of increasing cases, the provincial governments first closed educational institutions and banned all gatherings, including weddings and then proceeded to impose lockdowns in order to curb the spread of the disease. Prayer congregations were limited as well.

Criticizing the inadequate steps of the government on the issue, the chief justice observed that the epidemic came to Pakistan due to the incompetence of the government, as no effective preventive measures had been taken to check the affected persons on airports and in border areas.