ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday dismissed a petition seeking a judicial investigation into the alleged failure of Pakistani authorities to confine pilgrims in a quarantine facility along the Taftan border.

The matter was brought to the court by a petitioner who frequently files petitions on various issues.

While rejecting the petition, IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah said: “It is not a time to raise controversies or to doubt the intention of the state and its functionaries in meeting the challenges posed by the deadly Covid-19.”

The petitioner has specifically alleged that Zulfiqar Bukhari, special assistant to the prime minister on overseas Pakistanis, used his influence to let pilgrims return without completing the 14-day quarantine period.

Justice Minallah said that the government of Pakistan has formed a comprehensive national action plan pursuant to the World Health Organisation declaring Covid-19 a Public Emergency of International Concern.

The federal and provincial governments are dealing with the crisis in order to prevent the spread of the coronavirus and to protect citizens. In such a situation, the court order said, it was not appropriate to doubt the bonafides of the state and its functionaries. It added that containing the spread of Covid-19 is a global challenge and it is the duty of every citizen to act responsibly.

The order added that it was therefore not in the public interest to entertain the petition, as it would raise an unnecessary controversy and prejudice the efforts of the state to combat challenges posed by an invisible enemy. In addition, the court held that the jurisdiction of the court under Article 199 of the Constitution could not be exercised to conduct roving inquiries.

Published in Dawn, March 31st, 2020