CJP Nisar issues notice to K-P government for update on progress in APS case

Top judge summons CM Khattak, directs health officials to implement SC judgement on hospitals

PESHAWAR: Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar on Thursday took notice of the APS case currently languishing in courts, and issued a notice to the provincial government in this regard, according to reports.

Parents of the APS children had staged a protest outside the Peshawar Registry of the Supreme Court, and pleaded for justice from the top judge. CJP Nisar heeded their call and demanded an update into the progress of the case from K-P authorities.

CJP Nisar also summoned Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervez Khattak in the clean water case on Thursday. The top judge summoned the chief minister during a hearing of a suo motu case pertaining to the availability of clean water in Peshawar. The chief secretary and secretary health of K-P also appeared in court alongside the chief minister.



"We have to work for the betterment of the people. Karachi and Lahore have been held accountable. What have you done since you came into power?" the CJP asked CM Khattak.

"In 2013, when our government came into power, the conditions of the province were terrible," Khattak informed the top judge.

"Schools and hospital were in bad shape. We provide almost Rs20 million for the betterment of hospitals and schools in the province on an annual basis," the chief minister added.

Regarding the condition of hospitals in K-P, the top judge asked the asked the secretary as to whether he had implemented the detailed judgement of the SC on hospitals in Pakistan.

Additional Secretary Health K-P informed the court that there were 23 DHQ hospitals in the province, while the Secretary Health K-P said that there 1,570 hospitals in the province and only two districts did not have a DHQ.



The secretary health also informed the court that the provincial government had not received the detailed judgement of the SC.

Upon hearing this, the health secretary was provided with a copy of the judgement and the CJP asked for the immediate implementation of the order.

"Sanctity of the vote is respected by working," the CJP said in apparent reference to the political turmoil in the country.



CJP addresses gathering

CJP Nisar also addressed a gathering of lawyers in Peshawar today, in which he said that laws from a bygone era needed to be changed.

"It is the duty of the legislature to make and update the laws, while the function of the judiciary is to implement them. Old laws are the reason behind delay in provision of justice," he is reported to have said.

"We have to keep our house in order, I cannot correct everything alone, all the judges have to perform their constitutional duties," he added.