LAHORE: Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar summoned both Hamza Shahbaz and his alleged wife Ayesha Ahad Malik at the Supreme Court’s Lahore registry on Monday (today).

The chief justice was hearing on Sunday applications of citizens on violation of human rights when the lawyer of Ayesha Ahad Malik stated that no arrest had been made by police so far though a case was lodged against Hamza and others on the direction of the court. The lawyer further said none of the nominated suspects had joined police investigation.

At this, Chief Justice Nisar asked Advocate General Punjab Asma Hamid if Hamza Shahbaz was in town. The law officer sought time to verify the availability of Hamza. However, Ms Malik’s counsel told the court that Hamza was in Lahore since he returned to the country a few days back.

The chief justice directed Hamza Shahbaz to appear in person and also sought appearance of Ayesha Malik.

Previously, the chief justice had ordered the inspector general of police to register a case on the complaint of Ayesha Malik and the order was complied with the same day.

The Islampura police registered a case against Hamza Shahbaz, Ali Imran Yousuf, former IGP Rana Maqbool, Zulfiqar Cheema, Inspector Ateeq Dogar and others on charges of abducting and torturing Ayesha Malik.

Ms Malik, who claims herself to be wife of Hamza, alleged that her and her daughter’s life was in danger at the hands of Hamza and other leaders of the PML-N since 2011. Hamza has neither accepted nor rejected the claims of Ayesha Malik regarding the marriage.

FOUNTAIN HOUSE: The chief justice visited Fountain House, a non-government institute of mental heath, and donated Rs100,000 to the institution.

During the visit, the chief justice also announced that he would present bangles and perfumes to all female patients as Eid gifts. He showed satisfaction over the facilities being provided to the patients at the institute and also hinted at spending his Eid day with Fountain House’s patients.

SMOG CASE: Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar directed the registrar office of the Supreme Court to upload a report filed by a smog commission and also get it published in media for seeking comments from the people.

Hearing a suo motu case about air pollution and smog, the chief justice highly praised the efforts of smog commission chairman Dr Pervez Hassan and also sought his opinion as to how to implement the report. “We do not want to see smog this December again,” CJP Nisar said.

SUGAR MILLS: The chief justice granted two days to sugar mills owners to clear payments of farmers and sought a compliance report to the effect.

Earlier, lawyers of the sugar mills told the court that more than 90pc of the payments had been made to the farmers and the remaining amount would be cleared within days.

PRINCIPAL: Justice Nisar terminated Prof Dr Rashid Zia as principal of the Allama Iqbal Medical College and directed the Punjab chief secretary to appoint a permanent incumbent through a new search committee.

The chief justice also dismissed an application of Mayo Hospital Chief Executive Officer Prof Dr Asad Aslam. Dr Aslam complained that he had not been appointed vice chancellor of the King Edward Medical University despite fulfilling the merit.

The chief justice observed that the vice chancellor had been appointed in the light of recommendations of a search committee and the court could not interfere in it.

Published in Dawn, June 11th, 2018