ISLAMABAD: Supreme Court of Pakistan on Monday asked the federal governmentto remove Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Health Dr Zafar Mirza fromhis post.
The apex court while hearing a suo motu case related to the situationarising out of the coronavirus crisis, has expressed displeasure over theperformance of Dr Zafar Mirza in dealing with coronavirus pandemic andordered the government to remove him.
A five-member larger bench of the apex court — headed by Chief Justice ofPakistan (CJP) Gulzar Ahmed — was hearing the case.
During the hearing, the CJP, while expressing anger said the top court isnot satisfied with the performance of Zafar Mirza as a health advisor.
The CJP asked Attorney General Pakistan about ongoing inquiry against DrZafar Mirza by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).
To which, the attorney general informed the court that FIA is investigatinghim over masks issue which was sent to China with the approval of thegovernment.
“Removing Zafar Mirza from post at this point will not be suitable for thecountry as it will create more crisis amid coronavirus pandemic,” theattorney general told the court.
Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Gulzar Ahmed on Friday took first suomotu notice over ‘insufficient facilities’ in the country to deal with theCOVID-19 outbreak.
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CJP Justice Gulzar issued notices to the attorney general, health secretaryand interior secretary. Besides, the chief justice also summoned all thechief secretaries and advocate generals of the four provinces.
It must be noted that SC had earlier expressed displeasure over steps takenby authorities to combat the COVID-19 in the country.
The Supreme Court also ordered to set up proper quarantine centers atTaftan, Chaman and Torkham borders for coronavirus patients.
Hearing a case pertaining to the closure of OPDs and availability offacilities amid coronavirus pandemic, the apex court ordered the federalgovernment to establish quarantine facilities at all three borders withinone month.
In a report submitted to the apex court on Saturday, the governmentinformed CJP Ahmed that an emergency had been declared in the border areasof Balochistan with Iran, with additional staff deployed at border crossings*.*
The court was informed that 207 hospitals in all major cities and 154districts across Pakistan had been identified for isolation of suspectedpatients of the coronavirus.
