CJP takes a dig at PM Imran Khan’s judiciary-related statement

Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Asif Saeed Khosa on Wednesday responded to Prime Minister Imran Khan’s recent statements on the country’s judiciary, saying it was the federal government that allowed ailing former premier Nawaz Sharif to go abroad for treatment.

“The Lahore High Court only settled the modalities of the matter,” the CJP said while addressing a ceremony at the Supreme Court.

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“The prime minister is the elected chief executive. We respect his position but no one should taunt us about powerful people,” the chief justice said, adding that everyone is equal before the law.

He said the Lahore High Court (LHC) had only set the modalities as the permission to former premier Nawaz Sharif to go abroad was granted by the prime minister.

CJP remarked that he won’t comment on the removal of Nawaz Sharif’s name from the Exit Control List (ECL) because the case is still being heard in court.

“Only the law is powerful in front of us,” he remarked. No institution is perfect but if someone is working this hard, then you should encourage that person.

“We convicted one sitting PM, and disqualified another one,” the CJP said, adding that a verdict in a case against a former army chief will be given soon.

The top judge also opposed the PM Khan’s statements about the functioning of the country’s judicial system, saying that, “Everyone should know that the judges are working hard but no one is perfect”.

“We are not entertaining adjournment cases anymore.” People don’t compare the current system to the judiciary in 2009. We are free now and giving verdicts independently, he added.

He said that should be very cautious before they criticize the judges as they work day and night to ensure the rule of law.

It is pertinent to mention here that PM Khan on Monday asked Chief Justice Khosa and Justice Gulzar Ahmed to come forward and restore public confidence in the judiciary.