IHC dismisses plea to form judicial commission on COVID-19 spread

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) Monday dismissed plea seeking to form a judicial commission to probe reasons and alleged negligence behind the COVID-19 outbreak in the country.

IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah conducted hearing into the plea. Additional Attorney General (AAG) Tariq Khokher appeared before the bench on behalf of the federation.

During hearing, Justice Athar Minallah remarked that this is the high time to maintain unity when the country is facing a big crisis in shape of novel coronavirus spread. The division in society is not in the interest of petitioner and this court, he observed. Justice Minallah said fight against this menace could be won with unity in the nation’s ranks and forgetting the mutual conflicts. After this, the court dismissed the case.

The court order states that it is not an appropriate time to distract the attention of officials from the measures being taken against coronavirus spread. It stated that this petition couldn’t be heard in the public interest to avoid unnecessary conflicts in emergency situation.

Judgment further stated that the federal and provincial governments are working efficiently against the COVID-19 spread to protect the citizens. It is duty of everyone to show responsibility at this time of trial.

The order said that the court couldn’t direct an inquiry into the matter under Article 199 of the Constitution. Now it is more important that trust should be shown on state institutions.

It may be mentioned here that the petition had requested the court to also inquire the role of Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Overseas Pakistanis Syed Zulifqar Abbas Bukhari in the matter. The bench had served notices in the previous hearing to Bukhari and other respondents.