The Supreme Court has stepped in to stop Rana Saeed from being removed from his position as Wildlife Board Chairperson. It has also put a hold on the notification that put the Interior Ministry in charge of the Wildlife Board.
“The generals and bureaucracy have taken control of the country’s system as a whole and the Attorney General is unaware of the proceedings,” Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa said at a hearing over commercial activity in the Margalla National Park.
The proprietor of the exclusive Monal restaurant, Luqman Ali Afzal, along with Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan and Cabinet Secretary Kamran Ali Afzal were called by the Supreme Court, according to local media. The prime minister should be made aware of the situation, as instructed 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 authorized 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 dismissal and the park’s transfer with the prime minister.
Chief Justice Isa criticized the Attorney General for being out of touch with reality throughout the session, highlighting the growing military and bureaucratic influence over the nation.
When Cabinet Secretary Kamran Afzal addressed the Prime Minister as “Sahib,” Chief Justice Isa responded sharply, saying, “Talk about him as Mr. Shehbaz Sharif, or the Prime Minister.” This was a memorable occasion. “Prime Minister Sahib” does not exist in English. Release yourself from enslavement.”
The Secretary of Climate Change told the court that the courts had the authority to do judicial review and he would not speak more.
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 dismiss Rana Saeed would be overturned and that the notice to transfer the Wildlife Board to the Interior Ministry would be stopped.
The Supreme Court asked for further information on the Pine City project and ordered that the prime minister be notified of the situation. The case was adjourned until August 15.
