Lawyers flay PM speech

LAHORE: Lawyers have criticised Prime Minister Imran Khan’s speech questioning independence of judiciary, saying the chief executive of the country should abstain from casting aspersion on the judges of superior courts.

The prime minister on Monday asked Pakistan Chief Justice Asif Saeed Khan Khosa and would-be Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed to liberate the country by dispensation of justice to all and sundry. He said there was a perception among the masses that law treats the rich and the poor differently and judiciary should correct it.

Talking to The News International, Pakistan Bar Council Member Azam Nazir Tarar said the goal of independence of judiciary could not be achieved unless the judgments of the Supreme Court are implemented in letter and spirit and a particular judge is singled out.

He lambasted the government for filing reference against Justice Qazi Faez Isa. He said the PM only made political rhetoric as, according to him, Prime Minister has no will to make judiciary independent as actions speak louder than words. He believed that independence of judiciary could be attained if the judiciary is wholeheartedly backed by the government. Supreme Court Bar Association Secretary Shamim Malik said prime minister’s speech and remarks about judiciary were contrary to the stature and dignity of the office he is holding. He added that main hurdle to speedy justice was the flaws in procedural as well of substantive laws and it is the responsibility of the government to correct them through legislation in the parliament. He said prime minister had made statement in the wake of Lahore High Court’s decision to allow Nawaz Sharif to travel abroad for medical treatment. He said the judiciary was completely independent and making the all-out effort to provide justice to the people. However, it lacked the required number of judges and infrastructure. Judicial Activism Panel Chairman Muhammad Azhar Siddiqui said it was highly regretful to give such impression that judiciary was under pressure, saying judiciary was neither under duress in the past nor it is at present. He stressed upon all political parties to work together to achieve the goal of independence of judiciary. He said the PML-N should seek public apology for launching a vilification campaign against the five judges of the Supreme Court after then prime minister was sent packing after disqualifying him.