SC orders to remove Dr Zafar Mirza from PM’s Special Assistant post
2 min readISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Monday ordered to remove Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Health Dr Zafar Mirza from his post as he failed to perform in dealing with Coronavirus pandemic in Pakistan.
While hearing the Suo Motu case regarding coronavirus crisis in Pakistan, the Supreme Court expressed anger over the performance of Dr Zafar Mirza in dealing with coronavirus pandemic and ordered the federal government to remove him immediately.
The SC heard the petitions regarding measures taken by the federal government to curb the spread of the epidemic.
A five-member larger bench of the apex court — headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Gulzar Ahmed — was hearing the case. Justice Umar Ata Bandial, Justice Mazhar Alam Khan Miankhel, Justice Sajjad Ali Shah and Justice Qazi Muhammad Amin Ahmed are also on the bench.
The Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed remarked, “there is an army of ministers and advisors in federal government but there is no work being done.” He added that “corrupt people” have been kept as advisors in the government.
CJP Ahmed had on Friday sent notices to the Attorney-General of Pakistan, the health secretary, and the interior secretary, questioning the inadequate facilities being provided to citizens by the federal government to combat the coronavirus.
At a hearing into the case on Saturday, the government had informed the top court that special counters had been set up at all the major international airports and ground crossings strengthened at the Taftan, Chaman and Torkham borders to curb the spread of the virus.