PM calls on CJP

ISLAMABAD: In a break from tradition, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Tuesday called on Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar assuring him that the government will spare no effort to materialise his vision of bringing a visible improvement in education and health sectors besides ensuring provision of clean drinking water to the people.

Abbasi called on the CJP in his chamber at the Supreme Court. The one-on-one meeting lasted for around two hours. The meeting that was held in a cordial atmosphere was arranged at the request of the prime minister furnished through the Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP).

According to a statement issued by the apex court, the premier pledged the government’s full support to the public interest litigation initiatives undertaken by the chief justice. He assured the chief justice that all steps will be taken to materialise his vision of a Pakistan where the common man had access to free education, affordable health services, clean drinking water, better sanitation and health environment.

The premier further assured the chief justice that the government will go the whole way and provide quality services at affordable rates at the government hospitals and revamp medical education, especially in private medical colleges.

The prime minister also informed the chief justice that the Council of Common Interests (CCI) had approved a consensus National Water Policy which will help in fruition of his efforts in that direction.

Abbasi showed keen interest in providing all possible assistance in revamping the judicial system of Pakistan as visualised by the chief justice. “The government will provide all resources to the judiciary in order to enable it to provide speedy, inexpensive justice in addition to facilitating easy access of justice to the people,” Abbasi further assured the CJP. He also brought the chief justice in picture about the difficulties faced by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and the Tax Department on account of pendency of cases with different courts. The chief justice assured the prime minister that the litigation will be fast-tracked.

He further assured the prime minister that the judiciary will continue to perform its constitutional duties independently, fairly, transparently, without fear or favour and strictly in accordance with the law.

Earlier, the Public Relations Officer of the Supreme Court Whatsapped a message to all the reporters, covering the apex court, intimating that a meeting between the prime minister and chief justice of Pakistan was expected at around 7pm at the Supreme Court.

Meanwhile, the local security officials thronged the Supreme Court before the arrival of Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi. It was learnt that the prime minister arrived at the apex court building at 7pm without usual prime ministerial protocol and left after meeting with the chief justice. It is to recall that last month the prime minister had moved parliament for a debate determining as to who had the final say in legislation. The prime minister had called for a debate after criticising judicial activism which, he charged, was affecting the government’s functioning.

In response, the CJP repeatedly assured that parliament was supreme but the Constitution was above. He had also made it clear that parliament could not make legislations repugnant to the provisions of the Constitution.