SOME OF NISAR’S DECISIONS AS CHIEF JUSTICE
1 Construction of new water reservoirs: The highlight of Justice Saqib Nisar’s career was taking up the water reservoirs issue as Pakistan is facing acute water shortages and it is feared by 2025 the country’s major water sources could run dry. Upon Justice Nisar’s initiative, a countrywide — and at times international — campaign was launched to raise donations and fund the groundwork for Mohmand Dam was launched. Billions of rupees were collected and the prime minister admitted that the country owed it to Nisar for raising the matter.
2 Decision in Asia Bibi’s case: The acquittal of minority woman Asia Bibi, who was facing death over blasphemy charges and was in jail for over a decade, was a landmark decision. The case sparked countrywide protests but the decision stood and cases were registered against religious extremists. Asia Bibi has not yet been released.
3 Proceedings against Federal Minister Azam Swati: A sitting minister was taken to task for influencing the transfer of a police officer, for refusing his orders. Azam Swati, who was science and technology minister in Prime Minister Imran Khan’s cabinet, sent his men to ‘teach a lesson’ to a poor neighbour whose cow had trespassed into his garden. Swati’s men not only tortured the family but also sent them to jail. The matter was later taken up by the chief justice and, as a result, the minister had to tender his resignation and disqualification proceedings against him are under way.
4 Action against infant formula milk and ‘mineral’ water companies: The chief justice ordered all infant formula/powdered milk manufacturing companies to clearly print on packaging that their products are ‘not natural milk’ and so-called mineral water companies to deposit Re 1 against one litre of water. He even restrained baby formula manufacturers from using the word ‘milk’ for their products. 5 Medical colleges and universities to follow set fee limits: His intervention in cases of exorbitant tuition fees being charged by medical colleges, and mushrooming of universities, is seen as another landmark decision in his career.
Criticism
Critics said Nisar’s suo motu notices were politically motivated. Instead of putting his own house in order, the chief justice unnecessarily intervened in matters pertaining to the executive, others said.
Referring to the recent data issued by the Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan, critics say Nisar has left a backlog of 38,291 cases and, on average, over 1,000 cases are added to this list every month.