CJP swears there is no political agenda

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar says he has no political agenda but wants that people should get clean drinking water and basic health facilities at affordable prices.

Heading a three-member bench of the apex court hearing a suo moto case of increase in the prices of medicines on Tuesday, the chief justice said it was his desire that poor people should get clean drinking water and basic health facilities at affordable prices.

“By God, I have no political agenda. I don’t even want to touch cases of political nature, but I have to when they are filed with the apex court,” the CJP remarked. He emphasised that lawyers should assist the court in provision of basic necessities of life to the people at cheaper prices.

“It’s time to do something for the welfare of downtrodden community of the country and our intentions are very much clear in this regard,” Mian Saqib Nisar said, adding that it was his desire that medicines should be available to the poor people at affordable prices.

The chief justice urged that drug prices should be increased in line with the policy of the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) adding that the apex court will personally monitor the hike in the prices of medicines and issue proper guidelines to other courts to avoid issuing unnecessary stay orders.

The chief justice said they will have to create a good environment for investment in the health sector adding that companies should be given an opportunity to make profit but in accordance with the law.

He, however, said medicine companies as well as doctors should have the spirit to serve the humanity. A DRAP representative submitted that companies mostly submit incomplete applications leading to delay in decisions.

The court directed the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan to release a list of companies that don’t share their data with it, besides deciding the cases filed by companies at the earliest.

At the same time, the court observed that it was binding on the pharmaceutical companies to follow the DRAP policies. The court asked the pharmaceutical companies to deliberate upon the issue and devise a unified formula for resolving the issue and come up before it with an amicable solution. Later, the court adjourned the hearing until today (Wednesday).