ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Chief Justice (CJ) Saqib Nisar on Monday said to Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal during a hearing that courts enjoy amicable relations with the people and the government.
Nisar had summoned Iqbal to appear before the court in a suo moto notice case pertaining to the overcharging prices of identity cards for overseas Pakistanis. CJP heading a three-member bench, with Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Sajjad Ali Shah, conducted the case proceedings.
The interior minister was summoned to explain the fee hike for the National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOP). Nisar stated that the government thought of the courts as enemies when they were its friends.
Iqbal explained that the overseas Pakistanis were charged in accordance to their earnings. In response to that, Justice Ahsan directed that the subsidy provided to the locals should also be given to the foreign nationals; CJ added that their right to vote should be ensured.
Ahsan Iqbal assured the court that the matter will be resolved by the federal cabinet within 15 days.
The Court proceedings have been adjourned for two weeks.
Chief Justice had previously conducted proceedings on the matter of fee hike for overseas nationals. He had summoned Interior Minister and Interior Secretary on March 19, but the two were at that time on an official visit to Gwadar. Thus the hearing was adjourned till March 26.
Previously, Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali on March 1, 2017 had taken a suo moto notice upon complaints regarding high-prices charged for issuance of NICOP and cancellation of Pakistan Origin Card (POC) by National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA).