Flour subsidy case: Justice Jawad orders provinces to formulate joint solution
The court ordered the officers to serve people instead of bossing around.
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Justice Jawad S Khawaja remarked during the flour subsidy case that the officers should serve people instead of bossing around, adding that the whole exercise will be of no use if deserving people don’t benefit from it, Dunya News reported.
The three-member bench presided over by Justice Jawad S Khawaja heard the case. Justice Khawaja said in his remarks that the case hearing is ongoing since October 2013 but no steps are being taken.
He said if deserving people don’t benefit then the whole exercise will be a waste.
He told the officers to serve people instead of bossing around.
Justice Khawaja ordered all four provinces to come up with a joint solution.
He said that he is aware there are difficulties, adding that the solutions to those difficulties are also available.
It is pertinent to mention here that Justice Jawad S Khawaja remarked while hearing yesterday (Monday) that Pakistan is self-sufficient in food and yet people are dying of hunger, adding that people can’t feed on formation of authorities and committees.
Director Food Security Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Muhammad Anwar had told the court that fifty one lakh people are living below the poverty line. He told that the provincial government is introducing voucher system to ensure supply of consumer items on budget prices.
Justice Khawaja said in his remarks that Pakistan is self-sufficient in food production and yet people are dying of hunger. He admitted that some provinces rely on Punjab’s production for food, adding that food is still in abundance and that no one should have to die of hunger.
Secretary Food Punjab Muhammad Aslam told the court that the number of people living below the poverty line in Punjab is two crore. He said the government is forming Social Welfare Authority for people living below the poverty line which will work with regards to food, health and education.
Justice Khawaja said that forming laws, authorities and committees doesn’t feed the poor adding that article 9 and 14 will be changed if there are no resources.
Jamaat Islami leader Liaquat Baloch had written to Supreme Court pleading to hear the issue of food supply. Former Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry had taken notice over the plea and the case subsequently came to Justice Jawad S Khawaja.
Several hearings have taken place so far. The court has already expressed lack of satisfaction over the reports presented by provincial food secretaries.
