On the order of Supreme Court, Punjab government on Sunday removed security barricades from several important places in the provincial metropolis. These barricades had been put up outside Nawaz Sharif's residence of Jati Umra, Shahbaz Sharif's Model Town residence and office, Governor House, Aiwan-e-Iqbal, the residence and seminary Jamia Al Qadsia of Jamaatud Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed, residence of late Punjab Governor Salman Taseer, Qilla Gujjar Singh Police Station, passport office, WAPDA House and other sites.
Chief Justice of Pakistan, Mian Saqib Nisar had ordered removal of security barricades from several key places in the city by Sunday midnights, as these hurdles / barricades were creating inconvenience for the general public.
A three-member bench of the apex court heard several sou moto cases of public human rights including unnecessary barricades, provision of clean drinking water, police encounters in Punjab at the Lahore Registry here on Sunday.
When the additional home secretary explained to the court that the barricades were erected due to security threats to the CM, the chief justice remarked, "I have also received threats you should alert your forces instead of keeping the CM cordoned off". CM is a public representative and he should not be kept away from the public. The chief justice further observed that the court will review the issue of barricades outside offices of security agencies and then take a decision on their removal.
When the chief justice asked Shahbaz whether the court's observations were correct, the Punjab chief minister replied in the affirmative.
The Chief Justice then remarked that court does not want to indulge in politics, but the judiciary and executive need to work together to safeguard public rights.
During the hearing, the chief minister informed the court about the various power and water development projects under way in Punjab.
In a light mood, the CJ said that Shahbaz Sharif would be next Prime Minister to which Shahbaz replied, "Sir! Why are you after my job?" The chief justice added "your own people are after you." The CJ further remarked "We know you have respect for judiciary. I wish your other party leaders also had similar respects for the judiciary."
The chief justice also remarked, "I assure you there will be free and fair elections in the country from now on. I keep repeating this".
With regard to the clean water case, the chief justice remarked that the water in his own chamber was found contaminated. Shahbaz assured the court to resolve the problem. The CM assured the court that the provincial government will provide a comprehensive plan regarding safe drinking water to the citizens in three days.
The court had summoned Shahbaz Sharif after expressing displeasure over a report of the Punjab government which revealed that 540 million gallons of untreated water was being disposed of in Ravi River, a source of drinking water for the city.
Later, the bench heard the complaints about waste disposal of public hospitals. The chief justice observed that the emergency departments of government hospitals are in a poor condition, and questioned the chief minister's decision to outsource the collection of hospital waste to private companies. The provincial Law minister Rana Sana Ullah, Education minister Rana Mashood Ahmad, Spokesperson of the Punjab government, Malik Ahmad, Punjab Finance Minister Ayesha Ghouls Pasha, chief secretary, home secretary, IG Punjab Police and other high officers were also present in court.