Following law is a must: Chief Justice

LAHORE: Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar remarked on Sunday that neither he had unlimited powers nor he could intervene in every matter.

While hearing different suo motu cases and writ petitions at the Supreme Court Lahore Registry, he said that being the chief justice he had to follow the law in letter and spirit.

While taking up the private medical colleges case, a Supreme Court bench, led by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, ordered Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) to finalise the applications of three new medical colleges. The college include Al-Aleem Medical College Lahore, Niazi Medical College Sargodha and CMH Kharian Medical College Kharian for recognition in a week’s time. The court directed the PMDC to scrutinise the applications of the colleges in accordance with the new criteria besides allowing three months time to meet the deficiencies and shortcomings as per set criteria.

The court also directed the owners/administration to submit affidavit that they would be subject to legal and civil action in case of non-compliance.

The bench comprising Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar and Justice Ijazul Ahsan passed the orders while lifting a ban on the recognition of new medical

colleges to the extent of petitioner-colleges on their applications in suo motu notice against exorbitant fee structure of private medical colleges.

At the outset of the hearing, the bench criticised Pak Red Crescent Medical College (PRCMC) administration for not providing required facilities and completing the faculty in the college.

However, PRCMC’s counsel submitted that due to various reasons, the college faced certain problems and requested the court to grant six months time to overcome the shortcomings.

To which, the bench observed that it could not allow six months time and directed the authorities concerned to overcome the shortcomings within three months.

A FIA representative also submitted a report on the investigations, carried out into the PRCMC issue in compliance with the court orders.

The counsel, on behalf of Al-Aleem Medical College and Niazi Medical College, requested the bench for directions to the PMDC for finalising their applications for their recognition.

At this, the bench ordered the PMDC to finalise their applications in accordance with the criteria while adjourning the hearing.

According to another report, the Supreme Court converting an application moved by a mother against killing of her son in an alleged encounter, into a suo motu notice, summoned all accused including police officials for April 7.

The court also summoned Additional Inspector General Investigation Abu Bakr Khuda Bakhsh on the next date of hearing, besides appointing amicus curiae, in the matter.

The bench, headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar and Justice Ijazul Ahsan, passed these directions Sunday while hearing the matter at Supreme Court’s Lahore Registry.

Earlier, Sughra Bibi appeared before the bench and submitted that her 18-year-old son, Mohsin, was killed in an alleged encounter at Begum Kot near Shahdara, Lahore, in 2008. She also submitted that it had been proved that the encounter was fake in a judicial inquiry conducted on the directions of district and sessions judge Lahore.

Prosecutor General Punjab Ehtesham Qadir also apprised the bench of the background of the incident in accordance with documents provided by the applicant.

At this, the bench summoned the accused including the police officials for April 7 while adjourning the hearing.

Meanwhile, the bench also issued notices to accused involved in another alleged encounter on an application.

Amina Bibi had moved the application against alleged killing of her son in an encounter.

Meanwhile, Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar observed Sunday that two cells, one for minorities and the other for human rights, would be established at the Supreme Court Lahore Registry to address the complaints received in this connection.

While heading a two-member bench, the chief justice passed the observations during suo motu proceedings of an alleged encounter. He expressed concerns over stopping of his car Saturday by a woman - Sughra Bibi, the mother of a young man, who was allegedly killed in an encounter.

He said he did not know as to why she was not allowed access to him. He said the cells would entertain applications of such persons as well as minorities.