CJP takes NDMA to task, rejects report in coronavirus suo motu case

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan Gulzar Ahmed on Tuesday expressed great dissatisfaction over the lack of preparedness by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) in its response to the top court in a suo motu case regarding the country's coronavirus response.

"We will tell Prime Minister Imran Khan to lay off the entire staff. No one will be allowed to steal even a single penny," he remarked.

A five-member bench headed by Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed heard the matter today, in which a representative of the NDMA appeared before the court.

At the beginning of the hearing, the chief justice inquired about the machinery that was imported from China in the name of Al-Hafeez.

"Where are the documents? Documents are being sought since the last three hearings. What is Al-Hafeez? Who is he? Who is the owner? Nothing has turned up. Why have the documents not been given despite orders from the court?" he asked.

Meanwhile, Justice Ejazul Haq asked: "Who paid for the machinery imported from China? Where are the details of the chartered plane used and its payments?”

At this, the NDMA director of administration said that the company had bought and paid the customs duty; the machinery was not imported by the NDMA.

Responding to NDMA representative, the chief justice remarked that the owner of the company has not come forward yet. "The real problem is non-compliance with customs and other laws. He did not take the court orders seriously."

"Why don't we take action against the NDMA for contempt of court," he remarked. "We will tell the prime minister the NDMA chairman must be removed because the court's orders have been disregarded."

"How was only one company was given such an exemption?" he further asked.

Justice Gulzar remarked that the concerned authorities have jested with the court and the NDMA does not know how to deal with the court. "Rs10.725 million was paid to an unauthorised person, customs duty was also paid in cash. The company that sent the goods from China must have also have been paid in cash because its name is written here."

"Someone is definitely hiding something from the Supreme Court. The NDMA imported the vaccine with DRAP's permission, but has not revealed that who imported the vaccine in the first place," observed Justice Ahmed.

The court asked the attorney general about the vaccine import documents.

Justice Ejazul Ahsan remarked that the NDMA tried to "wash its hands of the investigation" by attaching only four supporting documents to answer the questions asked by the court.

NDMA report rejected

The court also rejected the the report submitted to it by the authority. The chief justice said that it was not clear how the NDMA was spending billions of rupees and that the NDMA administration itself did not know anything.

He went on to add that the authority has been ordering planes and machinery to deal with the locust attacks, for which just its word will not do, documents will have to be provided to show transparency.

"How can anyone give so much cash in Karachi? It seems someone has tried to be very clever and cunning with us. Where are the documents of vaccine and medicine import?" the court asked.

Justice Ijaz remarked that the coronavirus, flood, and locust attack response have all been handed over to NDMA and the authority was given a free hand and a huge fund to address these issues. Therefore, it is accountable to the court and the people.

Addressing the attorney general in this regard, the Justice Ahmed asked: "What kind of spectacle is going on? It seems that the NDMA will have to be abolished.”

“We have sent three notices to the authority but it has failed to explain its decisions.”

At this, the attorney general said that the concerned authorities have to satisfy the court and the relevant people are in attendance.

He requested a withdrawal of the reply submitted by the NDMA and said that a comprehensive reply, including the missing documents, would be submitted.

The court also sought all the details of the company from the SECP and directed the NDMA to submit a comprehensive reply along with all the details.