Time has passed when courts ran govts: SC judge

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court judge, Jamal Khan Mandokhail, Thursday remarked that there was a time when courts used to run governments, but that time has passed.

His remarks came when a five-member Constitutional Bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Amin-ud-Din Khan and comprising Justice Mandokhail, Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan, Justice Shakeel Ahmed and Justice Aamer Farooq, was hearing a case related to the protection of minorities.

“There was a time when courts used to run governments, but those days are gone now. We are not sitting here to run the government,” Justice Mandokhail observed during the hearing.

Faisal Siddiqui, counsel for the petitioner, expressed concerns about the Jaranwala church burning case. However, the court observed that it cannot interfere in the trial process.

Siddiqui contended that the main culprits behind the church burning had not been arrested, while the nominated suspects had been granted bail. He further argued that a proper investigation was not conducted in the matter. In response, Justice Afghan stated that if bail had been granted, there were proper legal forums to challenge it.

Siddiqui cited the Indian Supreme Court, noting that it legitimised the Babri Mosque ruling, whereas Pakistan’s court did not take such a stance in 2014. Justice Mandokhail remarked that the issues raised by the counsel were already part of the National Action Plan.

The Punjab additional advocate general submitted before the court that criticism of the government was being done merely to gain international attention and views.

Justice Mandokhail observed that a recent tragic terrorist incident on a train occurred, adding that if negligence was found on the part of an individual, it could not be alleged that the entire state was involved. Later, the court adjourned the case for five weeks.