The Lahore High Court on Friday observed that the government should have taken appropriate precautionary measures the moment neighbouring China was hit by the pandemic, and also directed the Punjab government to ensure smooth supply of flour and food items during the coronavirus lockdown and show zero tolerance against hoarders.
A full bench headed by Chief Justice Muhammad Qasim Khan disposed of the petition against inadequate measures taken by the government to restrict coronavirus spread and observed that necessary directions to the government will be given in detailed order to be issued later.
The Chief Justice observed that the government should follow model of China to fight the pandemic and make sure that food chain during the lockdown was not stopped.
Earlier, a law officer told the bench that 13,994 Pakistani citizens returned to the country from abroad so far.
However, the bench lamented that the government had no statistics as to how many citizens were subjected to screening on their return. The bench also observed that the federal government showed grave negligence by letting corona positive patients mixed up in society.
On a court query about measures taken to ensure financial support to daily wagers during the lockdown, the law officer said the provincial government decided to provide ration to daily wagers, auto rickshaw drivers and labourers.
The Chief Justice ordered the government to ensure that the vegetable and grain markers were opened without hindrance.
The bench directed the government to approach philanthropists to pay diyat and fine on behalf of prisoners who were unable to pay the money so the jails could be made crowd free.
The chief justice also urged media houses to run campaign for creating awareness among the public on coronavirus. During the hearing, former mayor Lahore Col Mubashir Javed (retd) made his appearance and stated before the bench that at least 3700 former elected local government representatives were on his disposal and ready to serve the country. The bench advised him to do on his own whatever he could do to serve the nation.