State's writ nowhere to be seen in Islamabad, observes IHC

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) gave Advisor to Prime Minister on Accountability Mirza Shahzad Akbar three weeks on Monday to submit a detailed report on the rise in crime and lawlessness in the federal capital.

While presiding over a case against an increase in crimes in Islamabad, IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah observed that the state's writ was nowhere to be seen in the city.

Besides Akbar, Islamabad chief commissioner, Islamabad IG and other officials also appeared before the court.

Asking the prime minister's advisor whether he had any knowledge of why he had been summoned to the court, Justice Minallah stated that "the entire system has become corrupt. And this did not happen overnight."

He further remarked that Islamabad had nothing else to offer other than conflicts of interest. Speaking of the police, he pointed out that even the investigating officers were not experts in their field.

"Islamabad should have been a model city under the federal government, but it does not even have a branch of the prosecution here,” Justice Minallah added.

He asked the prime minister's aide to visit Islamabad's district courts and see the condition they were in.

“The courts are in session inside the shops of district courts,” the judge observed. “Only the elite is being served in Islamabad. This tells a lot about the state's priorities," he further remarked.

The IHC directed Akbar to prepare a report based on his expertise and draw Prime Minister Imran Khan's attention towards the common people's suffering in the absence of their basic rights.

Referring to cases of enforced disappearances, Akbar informed the court that the prime minister took immediate notice as soon as the case of a missing person was brought to his attention. “A committee has been constituted by the prime minister on this issue,” he added.

The court further questioned the PM's aide, asking him that if an investigating officer was being paid Rs300 for solving a case, where did he think the officer was getting the rest of the money from?

“This is a huge source of corruption,” the judge remarked. "The interior ministry itself is involved in the real estate business. The prime minister should know how ordinary people are being affected,” he added.

Giving the PM's advisor three weeks to submit a detailed report, the court adjourned the hearing till October 19.