Govt makes law in 24 hrs for its own benefit: CJ

ISLAMABAD - The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the chief secretaries of all the provinces to instruct the executive district officers (EDOs) for conducting surveys about the illegal human organs trade in their respective areas and submit a report by July 31.A three-member bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad, was hearing a petition, filed by Asma Jahangir and others, regarding illegal transplant of human organs in the country.During the hearing, Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry expressed concern over the non-formation of rules and said the government passed the bill from Parliament within 24 hours for its own interest, but it was not paying attention to public interest. He also observed that although, laws concerning various subjects had been enacted, but there was no implementation.These remarks came, when Director General Health Qazi Saboor told the bench that the federal government had prepared rules for controlling the heinous crime relating to illegal human organs transplantation.The court observed illegal trade of human organs was a social evil and hoped that the provincial governments would devise rules in this regard very soon in view of Article 37 and 38 of the Constitution.According to the petitioners, intervention by the Supreme Court was necessary as the federal and provincial governments and the Human Organ Transplant Authority have failed to check illegal organs trade and kidney transplantation and to take action against those caught in these illegal activities.During the hearing, Tariq Mahmood, counsel for Asma Jahangir, told the bench that despite the clear assurance, provincial governments had not so far devised rules to prevent violation of the law.Justice Khilji Arif Hussain said rules were being formed for the benefit of rich people, while Justice Jawwad S Khawaja asked why the government was silent over these unlawful activities.Meanwhile, the court, while taking notice over the incident over the transplant of illegal kidneys, ordered RPO Rawalpindi to visit in the hospital and submit a report in this regard.The court adjourned the hearing till August 1.

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