ISLAMABAD: Justice Qazi Faez Isa said the Punjab Local Bodies Act is like an attack on the Supreme Court of Pakistan and in plain words Punjab government did not want to hold Local government elections.
A two-member bench headed by Justice Qazi Faiz Isa on Monday heard the case of local bodies elections. The case has been adjourned for an indefinite time period.
“Punjab government, intoxicated with power, wants to separate Punjab from the country,” remarked Justice Qazi Faez. “There is a plan to repeat the East Pakistan tragedy in Punjab as the provincial government is playing with the constitution and the whole country is being ruined,” Justice Justice Qazi Faez Isa remarked.
Justice Qazi said that three years have passed since the government came to power but no decision has been taken on the census and doesn’t this show the incompetence of the government. The SCP Judge questioned about the state of government being run like this. “The country does not belong to the Punjab government, it belongs to us,” Justice Qazi remarked.
“Is the path of dictatorship being paved by hating democracy? It seems the Punjab government hates people very much. Should the Punjab government stay after breaking the law,” questioned Justice Qazi Faez Isa. He remarked democracy thrives only on local bodies. He pointed out the Additional Attorney General and said the government should stop secrecy in its affairs and decisions.
“Even decisions are better but if they are based on secrecy then questions must be raised. The core of running affairs of Pakistan is census and is this not the responsibility of government to release the results of 2017 census despite the lapse of four years” On this, the Additional Attorney General said the government wants to create consensus on this as the matter is sensitive.
Justice Qazi Faez Isa said the Punjab government’s local bodies’ ordinance created more complexities as per the elections commission of Pakistan. “In plain words, the Punjab government does not want to hold Local Bodies elections,” Justice Qazi Faez Isa remarked.
Justice Qazi Faez Isa then asked who is Governor Punjab? To which the Attorney General replied that his name is Chaudhry Sarwar. Justice Qazi said go and tell him he cannot give political statements.
“On the wishes of one person, the whole Punjab assembly comprising 374 members has been bypassed. Are we once again living in British Raj or is he a Viceroy,” remarked Justice Qazi. Punjab Local Government Secretary Noorul Amin Mengal also appeared in court.
“The Election Commission was informed about the amendment in the Local Government Act of Punjab,” Secretary LG said.
“My staff briefed me that the Election Commission was informed about the amended ordinance,” Punjab Local Government Secretary said. On which, Justice Qazi said, “Are you such a senior officer that the staff will brief you?”