Spreading of coronavirus: LHC questions inappropriate measures of agencies

"We are compelled to say that the position what the nation is now facing, is because of inappropriate measures of the government agencies," said a written order released on Wednesday by Lahore High Court full bench on the other day's proceedings on coronavirus crisis-related petition.
The bench headed by Chief Justice Muhammad Qasim Khan with Justice Shujaat Ali Khan, Justice Ayesha A Malik, Justice Shahid Jamil Khan and Justice Sajid Mahmood Sethi observed, the federal government had not been able to accept properly and take its responsibility.
Chief Justice Muhammad Qasim Khan notes with regret that opening of Iran border and allowing the suspects to spread all over the country on the face of it is not understandable when spreading of coronavirus was well within the knowledge of all agencies, although quarantine centers were established.
It observed that the government must have felt the gravity and if at all they had allowed the visitors to return to Pakistan from Iran border, they must not have been allowed and handed over to other provinces without their proper screening.
"We are further concerned about the establishment of quarantine centers right within the cities," said the judges.
The bench remarked that as a precaution, on priority the government must have chosen the border area to establish quarantine centers so affected or suspected persons must have been treated then and there, instead of making the lives of hundreds and thousands of other cities vulnerable.
The bench in its order also lamented that the law officer representing the federal government, when asked as to what specific steps have been taken to cater with ongoing pandemic remained unable to assist that what provision of law or the article of the Constitution has been invoked to impose health emergency.
The bench further expressed its concern over landing of a flight from Qatar at Islamabad despite the suspension of all international flight operation.
"This is really shocking that if international flight operations have been suspended as a policy, then how the government can relax such policy at its will. This is yet another example of colourful exercise of authority by the persons sitting on helm of the affairs, but this court will not allow any such practice to nourish," the bench added.