ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan has stepped in to stop Rana Saeed from being removed from her position as Chair of the Wildlife Board. It has also put a halt to the notification that put the Interior Ministry in charge of the Wildlife Board.
Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa said, “The Attorney General is unaware of the proceedings, and the generals and bureaucrats have taken control of the country’s system,” at a hearing against commercial activities in the Margalla National Park.
The Supreme Court reportedly summoned Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan, Cabinet Secretary Kamran Ali Afzal, and Luqman Ali Afzal, the proprietor of the exclusive Monal restaurant, according to Express News. The prime minister was instructed to be consulted on the topic by the chief justice.
The court was informed that the Wildlife Board’s chairwoman had been fired, and that the Interior Ministry had taken over control of the Wildlife Department as a result of a judicial decree.
“The Interior Ministry’s role is to maintain law and order,” Chief Justice Isa said in response to criticism of this action. The measures of the administration seem to be an attempt to overturn the court’s ruling to safeguard national resources. What kind of relationship exists between the Cabinet Secretary and the proprietor of the private hotel? Is the hotel owner’s brother not the Cabinet Secretary? The prime minister’s approved summary for the removal of the Wildlife Board chairperson was obtained by the Cabinet Secretary.
Following a brief break, Attorney General Awan showed up in court, and the judges demanded an answer right once over the Interior Ministry’s acquisition of the Margalla Hills National Park. The Pine City housing project in the Margalla Hills was another subject the court requested information regarding.
The court adjourned the hearing to August 15 after Attorney General Awan promised to bring up the matter of Rana Saeed’s removal and the park’s transfer with the prime minister.
Chief Justice Isa criticized the Attorney General for being out of touch with reality during the session, highlighting the growing military and bureaucratic influence over the nation.
One significant instance was when Chief Justice Isa responded to Cabinet Secretary Kamran Afzal calling the Prime Minister “Sahib,” saying “Talk about him as Mr. Shehbaz Sharif, or the Prime Minister.” Break free from the bonds of servitude; there is no such thing in English as “Prime Minister Sahib.”
The Secretary of Climate Change declined to provide additional comments, informing the court that the courts have the authority to conduct judicial review.
The court also addressed the management of the Wildlife Board and its transfer under the Interior Ministry in a related dispute. Attorney General Awan promised the court that the decision to remove Rana Saeed would be overturned and that the notification to transfer the Wildlife Board to the Interior Ministry would be stopped.
The Supreme Court asked for further information about the Pine City project and ordered that the prime minister be notified of the situation. The case was postponed until August 15.
