'Friendships' don't work in national matters , CJP on Zulfi Bukhari's appointment

LAHORE: Chief Justice Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar commented on Zulfi Bukhari’s appointment that ‘friendships’ do not work when it comes to the matters of national interest.

On Friday, while hearing the case pertaining to dual nationality of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s special aide on oversees matters, the chief justice remarked that the premier is complaint to the law and constitution; appointments must not be based on ‘friendships’ when it is a national matter, he resented.

As the hearing went underway at Lahore registry of the Supreme Court, Justice Nisar said that a verdict had already been given with regards to dual citizenship of parliamentarians as this was the matter of national security.

The legal counsel of Bukhari informed the Supreme Court bench that his client was among 100 influential Muslims of Europe. “If someone has a Pakistani passport, then he does not receive a visa,” he added.

“Your name is Zulfiqar Bukhari, so why do you write Zulfi Bukhari?” the chief justice asked during the hearing.

Your name is Zulfiqar Bukhari, so why do you write Zulfi Bukhari?, the chief justice asked

Adjourning the hearing until December 5, the top judge ordered to present all details related to PM special assistant Zulfi Bukhari’s education, eligibility and relevant experience.

Zufli Bukhari was appointed the prime minister’s special assistant on overseas Pakistanis and human resource development on September 18.

At the time of his appointment, Bukhari was being investigated by the National Accountability Bureau in connection with establishing offshore companies in the British Virgin Islands (BVI).