Islamabad: During a hearing related to Margalla National Park, Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Qazi Faez Isa, questioned the Attorney General, asking if the generals and bureaucrats have taken over the country. He remarked, “This country was made for the people, not for the elite; the country cannot function this way.”
A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa was hearing the case. During the proceedings, the Chief Justice pointed out that the Supreme Court had previously ordered the protection of Margalla National Park, a national asset. However, after this order, the Wildlife Board was placed under the Ministry of Interior, and the Chairperson of the Wildlife Board was removed from her position.
The Chief Justice remarked that the Ministry of Interior’s role is to handle law and order, and the government’s actions have severely violated the court’s orders, suggesting that there was an attempt to overturn the court’s decision.
He emphasized that the court will ensure the removal of restaurants from Margalla National Park.
The Cabinet Secretary had secured the Prime Minister’s approval to remove the Chairperson of the Wildlife Board. The court summoned Cabinet Secretary Kamran Ali Afzal, Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan, and Monal Restaurant owner Luqman Ali Afzal.
The Attorney General and the Cabinet Secretary appeared before the court. The Cabinet Secretary stated that he did not send the summary transferring the management of Margalla National Park to the Ministry of Interior; instead, the order was issued directly by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and conveyed to his office.
The Chief Justice asked why the Cabinet Secretary did not inform the Prime Minister that this was a violation of the rules.
He noted that the Prime Minister does not have the authority to make such unilateral decisions, as it is the responsibility of the bureaucrats to advise him on the rules.
The Chief Justice expressed strong displeasure with the federal government and, upon hearing the Cabinet Secretary refer to the Prime Minister as “Sir,” reprimanded him, urging him to break the chains of servitude.
He hinted at issuing a contempt of court notice to the Cabinet Secretary, lamenting that the constitution is being treated as a joke.
He questioned whether managing a national park is the responsibility of the Ministry of Interior and whether law enforcement agencies have eradicated terrorism from the country that they are now taking over the management of parks.
He sarcastically suggested that the Ministry of Interior might as well be given control over education and health as well.
Justice Qazi Faez Isa asked the Secretary of Climate Change who had recommended transferring the Wildlife Board to the Ministry of Interior.
The Secretary responded that their ministry had not sent any such summary and that the decision was made by the Prime Minister.
Prime Minister’s Coordinator Romina Khurshid Alam reportedly suggested the removal of the Board’s Chairperson.
However, Romina Khurshid Alam, while appearing before the court, denied making such a recommendation.
The Chief Justice then asked if there had been any calls from “above” or from some “extraterrestrial” source, questioning whether the national park should have been handed over to the Ministry of Interior. Both the Cabinet Secretary and the Coordinator opposed this transfer.
The Chief Justice questioned why the Wildlife Board was placed under the Ministry of Interior, recalling an earlier hearing where a Major General had appeared before the court but had refused to show the court the relevant files.
He criticized the situation, saying that the country has been turned into a spectacle, noting that there are banners for the Pine City Housing Project sponsored by the CDA from Parliament to his home.
Addressing the Attorney General, he asked whether the bureaucrats and generals had taken over the country, suggesting that bureaucrats are serving someone else instead of the people.
He questioned whether a Prime Minister could order an officer to shoot someone and expect them to comply.
The Supreme Court, during the hearing on commercial activities in Margalla National Park, issued a stay order on the notification placing the Wildlife Board under the Ministry of Interior and the dismissal of Wildlife Board Chairperson Rana Saeed, halting the implementation of these orders.
During the proceedings, the Chief Justice remarked that while the court intended to remove restaurants from Margalla National Park, they have also discovered housing societies there.
He questioned the management of the country by generals and bureaucrats, pointing out that the Attorney General is seemingly unaware of how things are being handled.
The court instructed the Attorney General to bring all these matters to the Prime Minister’s attention and requested detailed information on the construction of housing societies in Margalla National Park.
The hearing was adjourned until August 15.
