ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan has ordered all shopping malls and markets to remain open throughout the week unlike earlier when there was a limitation placed to the days businesses could operate to curb the spread of the coronavirus outbreak.
This decision was taken by a five member bench of the Supreme Court while hearing a suo moto case regarding the measures taken to combat the spread of the coronavirus.
The bench was headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Gulzar Ahmed including Jusitce Umar Ata Bandial, Justice Mazhar Alam Khan Miankhel, Justice Sajjad Ali Shah and Justice Qazi Muhammad Amin Ahmed.
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Chief Justice of Pakistan Gulzar Ahmed pointed out that all markets were open in Karachi except big shopping malls and ordered that shopping malls be opened as well and told that shops that were sealed earlier for violating standard operating procedures (SOPs) need to reopen and instead of scaring the people, we should make them understand.
The top judges asked about the decisions taken by the National Command and Coodination Commitee (NCOC) and Deputy Attorney General Sohail Mahmood who was present at the hearing said that the NCOC had decided that small shops should be re-opened but never took a decision regarding shopping malls.
Furthermore, the Chief Justice of Pakistan Gulzar Ahmed inquired about the reason why businesses are not allowed to operate on weekends and said that an order will be passed allowing them to open on Saturday and Sunday.
At the end the Supreme Court ordered all shopping malls and markets to open and operate all weekend with no limitation to the number of days.
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