CJP orders opening of shopping malls across the country

Chief Justice of Pakistan Gulzar Ahmed on Monday ordered the federal and provincial governments to open all shopping malls across the country.

In its written order, it has been directed that all markets would also be remained open on weekend (Saturday and Sunday) but with complete implementation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

The SC bench has ordered to open all the small shops across the country on Saturdays and Sundays ahead of Eid. In the verdict announced it was stated that the closure of small businesses is the violation of Article 4, 18 and 25 of the Constitution of Pakistan.

The bench said in its verdict said the government should not close the whole country in the name of coronavirus pandemic.

“Pakistan is not a country which has been affected by the COVID-19 by and large,” the verdict stated.

The CJP criticising the government’s strategy for opening and closing of markets on selective days remarked that the government thought the virus would only come on Saturday and Sunday.

CJP Gulzar Ahmed gave remarks that poor men would die of poverty if not with the COVID-19. The top-judge ordered for de-sealing of all the shops that had been sealed amid the coronavirus SOPs implementation by the police and law enforcement agencies.

CJP Gulzar questioned if all the other shops are open then why shopping malls are closed?

Attorney General has been presenting arguments from the Supreme Court Karachi Registry Branch while the additional attorney general was present before the larger bench in Islamabad.

A five-member Supreme Court bench has been hearing a suo moto case on federal and provincial governments' response to the Covid-19.

The case hearing has been adjourned till Tuesday (tomorrow).

CJP grills NDMA

CJP Gulzar Ahmed said to the representative of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) that NDMA report was not satisfactory. The CJP said the court will seek arguments from the attorney general and the NDMA officials separately. The court has ordered the NDMA to come up with a new report.

NDMA member informed the court that on the Haji Camp Quarantine Center Rs59m was spent, to which CJP asked where the billions of rupees were going?

CJP Gulzar Ahmed has asked series of questions from NDMA including how much money spend on one patient in quarantine and gave remarks that what NDMA has done to combat the locusts attack.