Islamabad (February 27, 2018): Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Saqib Nisar on Tuesday said that he swears that he had no political agenda and even do not want to take up political cases.
“I only want to ensure the provision of fundamental rights to the masses,” he said in a suomoto case pertaining to increase in milk prices.
He said that court had helped the widows in increasing pensions from Rs 1300 to Rs 8000 that would now enable them to acquire headache tablets.
He said that they do not have any intentions and if someone wanted to test them then go ahead today as they wanted to do something for the masses.
Click Play Button to Watch this Video
He said that they wanted to ensure the provision of low price medicines to the masses and the lawyers should also help them in their cause. “Time has come to give something to the masses,” he said adding that the apex court would supervise all the issues and would also issue guidelines to the lower courts.
Earlier during the hearing, the CJP said that the medicine factories do not have the authority to raise the prices on their own and before the drug policy, the Drug Regularity Authority of Pakistan was helping out the companies and willfully provided relief to the companies through the courts.
On this, the medicine companies lawyer said that 15 increase in drug prices was notified in 2013 but was reverted on the directives of the prime minister. “The court had to decide the cases in 90 days but this had not happened,” he argued.
The chief justice ordered to provide the record of companies that do not provide the data and said that all stay orders would be cancelled. “Courts are not here to fix medicine prices and the companies have the right to earn profits but the doctors and these companies should also have the feeling to serve the masses,” he said.
He also directed DRAP to ensure transparency in their workings and warns of strict action over negligence.
Related News:
Supreme Court: Chief Justice summons PM’s Principal Secretary by 11:30am
