War against coronavirus: CJP calls for greater unity

The Supreme Court said, at the time of calamity, there is a need for national consensus, and all the political parties should be on one page in the war against the coronavirus.
Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed, heading a five-judge bench, said there should be harmony and asked the attorney general to advise the government for consensus.
All the political parties should be on one page at this time of national calamity, he added.
"When there is parliament then why not it [coronavirus crisis] is debated in the parliament, adding perhaps the legislators are afraid to sit in the parliament."
The larger bench heard, Raja Muhammad Nadeem's petition against the Islamabad High Court (IHC) order dated March 20th regarding release of 408 prisoners on the basis of coronavirus crisis.
The bench dismissed the reports submitted by the federal, the provincial governments and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) and the ICT administration about measures to control spread of coronavirus in their respective areas.
"What do we do with these reports, when [they] are not making any sense."
However, later the advocate generals of all the provinces informed that the OPDs in their respective provinces were operational to cater to the needs of the patients suffering from other diseases.
The court noted that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province's performance was the worst in the present scenario.
The chief justice said, "We want to analyse the federal government's performance to counter the pandemic."
He remarked that except holding meetings and passing resolution, nothing was on the ground when it came to governments' plans.
What sort of medical emergency it is that the OPDs in public hospitals and the private hospitals are closed. Everyone is working for just funds.
The chief justice also questioned the competence of State Minster for Health Dr Zafar Mirza saying that he is just being given coverage on media on a daily basis.
Attorney General for Pakistan Khalid Jawed Khan said the concerned authorities would give briefing to him in the chambers.
However, the CJ dismissed his request.
All the provinces, the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) and the Gilgit-Baltistan supported the recommendations of the attorney general for the release of prisoners.
The AGP had submitted the proposals for release of prisoners in the last hearing.
The CJ observed that everyday it was told that billions of rupees had been allocated for distribution of money and ration, but there was nothing on the ground.
The TV channels from morning till evening scare the public.
The officials sitting in their houses make decisions and give statements on the TV channels.
"Sorry 'only paper pushing'," the CJP said.
"It is pathetic, no action by the government."
"The situation is mind boggling." "I had to get open a big hospital in the federal capital for the check-up of my wife. What kind of medical emergency has been imposed in the country?"
"Every hospital and clinic should remain open. The Ministry of National Health Services wrote a letter to the Supreme Court to close its dispensary. Why should the dispensary be closed? Is the pandemic being countered this way?"
The people are closed in their houses, adding in one or two room houses 8 to 10 persons are living.
How long they could live in such situation.
People don't have jobs.
The chief justice questioned whether the roads had been disinfected in the ICT, GB and all the provinces.
The chief justice said right to survival is a fundamental right of the people, we can't allow right to life be jeopardized, adding it is the basic concern of the Supreme Court.
We are sitting for the protection of fundamental rights. If the government is thinking it is not the fundamental right, then it is wrong. He said that for the last 15 years Pakistan Steel Mills is closed but the workers are paid salaries, pension and promotion.
The same condition is of the PIA and the Karachi shipyard.
Is anyone is cognizant of the matter, the CJ remarked.
He said instead of relying on the USA and foreign countries things like ventilators and testing kits could be manufactured locally.
The chief justice asked advocate general Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) about the report submitted by Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari, stating that the Peshawar High Court (PHC) ordered the release of 3,200 prisoners.
However, he replied that perhaps the human rights minister was mistaken as no such order had been issued by the PHC.
The bench decided to announce order regarding en bloc bails granted by the Sindh High Court and the Islamabad High Court in view of coronavirus outbreak on Tuesday (today).