While suspending notification relating to Wildlife Board transfer to federal inerior ministry on Friday top court Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa expressed dismay over prnicipal law officer’s lack of knowledge about important matters observing generals and bureaucrats have held reins of the country.
English Daily Express Tribune reported on Saturday that Supreme Court stayed the sacking of Wildlife Board Chairperson Rina Saeed and suspended the notification of Wildlife Board’s transfer to the interior ministry.
During the hearing of the case pertaining to commercial activities at Margalla National Park, the Supreme Court was told that the chairperson Wildlife Board was removed from her office and the wildlife department was transferred to the Ministry for Interior.
The chief justice remarked that the job of the interior ministry is to restore law and order, adding the court’s order with regard to protection of the national asset was violated. The government’s steps attempted to sabotage the court ruling.
He inquired about the relationship between the owner of a private restaurant and the cabinet secretary, asking if both are brothers. The court took the break during the hearing and summoned cabinet secretary Kamran Ali Afzal, Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) and owner of private restaurant Monal Luqman Ali Afzal.
When the hearing resumed, the apex court sought the reply of the government over transfer of Margalla Hills National Park to the interior ministry. The court also sought details about the Pine City project on Margralla Hills from the CDA.
The AGP assured the Supreme Court to bring the matter of Rina Saeed’s sacking and transfer of National Park into the notice of the prime minister. The chief justice remarked that generals and bureaucrats had taken the country’s control.
Addressing the AGP, the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi said, “You are unaware of the situation as to how things are being done.” During the coures of adjudication the CJP Qazi Faez Isa also prompted the secretary cabinet for calling ‘Prime Minister Sahab’, saying there is no such word in English. The CJP remarked, “Break the shackles of slavery”, adding either call him the prime minister or Shehbaz Sharif.
The secretary cabinet apprised the bench he had not sent the summary of transferring National Park to the interior ministry, adding the PM himself issued the order, which was forwarded to him. The CJP inquired if he had pointed this out to the PM that it was against the rules.
However, the AGP assured the court that the Wildlife Board would not be transferred to the interior ministry. Besides, he also assured withdrawal of the notification about sacking of the Wildlife Board chairperson. The AGP submitted the cabinet meeting will be held on Tuesday where he will bring the matter into notice of the prime minister.
Later, the bench adjourned hearing of the matter till August15.
