ISLAMABAD: Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif said on the National Assembly’s floor Wednesday that the IMF delegation sought a meeting with the chief justice of Pakistan (CJP), which he granted. He said the IMF delegation met the CJP in order to seek the judiciary’s support in maintaining financial discipline. “Role of judiciary in maintaining financial discipline is vital, and that is why the IMF delegation met the chief justice of Pakistan,” he said adding that the meeting took place with the consent of both sides “and it was not imposed”.
Khawaja Asif said the government was endeavouring to maintain financial discipline as per the IMF conditions and obviously the judiciary also plays a role in this regard. “We feel that judiciary supports us in maintaining financial discipline in the country in view of the economic situation,” he added. The minister said the meeting took place with the consent of judiciary; otherwise, the court could have told the delegation that they did not want to meet them. He said the Pakistan government was maintaining financial discipline under the IMF conditions, adding that whatver breathing space, financial support is there is because of the IMF programme. “We are doing so under compulsion without our own will and trying to survive,” he said. Responding to the opposition member’s fears about any future IMF interference in Pakistan’s nuclear programme, he said the parliamentarian was stretching too far. “No institution, even judiciary, would be open to them. They met the judiciary with their (judiciary) consent,” he said. Earlier, speaking on a point of order, Noor Alam Afridi of the JUIF questioned with whose permission and in which position the IMF delegation met the chief justice of Pakistan, and what discussion took place between the two sides. “Tomorrow, an IMF official will come to Pakistan and ask the government to roll back the country’s nuclear programme,” Noor Alam Afridi said.
Meanwhile, former prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf expressed concerns over reports of closure of utility stores across the country.