The Supreme Court on Wednesday acknowledged the devastation and the loss of lives that coronavirus has caused in Pakistan.
The five judge bench, headed by Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmad has said in the written order that the virus has been an alarming situation. “This virus being new, there was no readiness of the government to deal with the same, nor the necessary medical equipment available to face the growing number of infected cases.”
It also highlighted how the government did take immediate steps to deal with this virus and minimise its effects on the people of Pakistan, and in this regard, a huge amount of emergency funds were used.
“We admit that Pakistan has a struggling economy and coronavirus (Covid-19) made it more staggering. However, we note that the people of Pakistan have a fundamental right, namely, the right to life, under which the Government of Pakistan is required to provide to the people of Pakistan safe and healthy living conditions,” it added.
Earlier, the court had advised the federal and provincial governments to spend their resources carefully and not drain out all of them in the fight of just one disease.
Referring to Article 149 (1) and (4), the order further stated that the executive authority of all the provinces is mandatory to be exercised so as not to impede or prejudice the exercise of the executive authority of the federation and the executive authority of the federation shall extend to giving directions to provinces, as may appear necessary to the government.
The five judge bench, headed by Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmad has said in the written order that the virus has been an alarming situation. “This virus being new, there was no readiness of the government to deal with the same, nor the necessary medical equipment available to face the growing number of infected cases.”
It also highlighted how the government did take immediate steps to deal with this virus and minimise its effects on the people of Pakistan, and in this regard, a huge amount of emergency funds were used.
“We admit that Pakistan has a struggling economy and coronavirus (Covid-19) made it more staggering. However, we note that the people of Pakistan have a fundamental right, namely, the right to life, under which the Government of Pakistan is required to provide to the people of Pakistan safe and healthy living conditions,” it added.
Earlier, the court had advised the federal and provincial governments to spend their resources carefully and not drain out all of them in the fight of just one disease.
Referring to Article 149 (1) and (4), the order further stated that the executive authority of all the provinces is mandatory to be exercised so as not to impede or prejudice the exercise of the executive authority of the federation and the executive authority of the federation shall extend to giving directions to provinces, as may appear necessary to the government.