‘Is judiciary a political party,’ minister attacks CJP’s criticism of Punjab govt

LAHORE: Raising the ante in the criticism of the judiciary, Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal on Saturday criticized the Supreme Court for questioning the performance of the PML-N-led provincial government in Punjab.

In a sharp reaction to Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar’s remarks about the Punjab government, the minister turned his guns on the judiciary.

He said in a tweet: “Hon CJ! It is for the people of Punjab to judge performance in the coming elections.”

“ How can you make such statements just before general election? Is judiciary a political party? IK or AZ can make such

statements. Politicization of judiciary will be our collective loss,” he continued.His response came in the wake of the chief justice hearing a number of cases of public interest at the apex court’s Lahore registry.

While hearing a case pertaining to non-provision of potable water, CJP Nisar reprimanded the Punjab government for failing to provide potable water to the people of the province.

He questioned the performance of the ruling PML-N in the province over the past ten years , asking what it had been doing all along when people have no access to clean drinking water and better healthcare facilities.