Khawaja Asif castigates judiciary, demands accountability of judges

ISLAMABAD: Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif has strongly criticised the judiciary for ‘interfering in political matters’, demanding accountability of incumbent and former judges, ARY News reported on Tuesday.

Speaking on the National Assembly (NA) floor, the defence minister accused the Supreme Court (SC) of Pakistan of conspiracy, saying that a ‘special committee should be constituted to investigate the cases from prosecution of former premier Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto till date’.

Khawaja Asif lambasted the Supreme Court for ordering the ‘political parties to negotiate’, saying that it should first end there differences instead of ordering them.

In reference to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the federal minister said that ‘some elements’ were still facilitating a political party, which came into power in 2018. “The House’s responsibility is to become a wall in front of facilitators”, he added.

“The practice of overthrowing a prime minister should end,” he maintained, pointing out the prosecutions of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif. “We [the House] should defend our Prime Minister, whatever party he may belong to,” he added.

“We were held accountable several times, now its time to hold the judiciary accountable,” he said, claiming that there were some people who get lifetime vehicles, guards and phone bills along with pension.

Demanding the accountability of judiciary, Asif demanded to constitute a special committee of National Assembly, which will investigate cases from trial of Bhutto till date.

Khawaja Asif also lambasted former chief justice of Pakistan (CJP) Saqib Nisar for making people of Pakistan ‘dam fool’ by collecting funds for dam construction. “Which constitution gives authority to a chief justice for collection of dam funds,” he asked.

Meanwhile, he also admitted of supporting dictators but said they have paid its price. “They [the judges] supported dictators but did not pay the price,” he said, adding that cases should also be registered against those who have died.

“Parliament will not surrender and will not sacrifice its Prime Minister”, the defence minister added, urging the House to ‘stand up and defend itself’. He concluded that they will not allow the facilitators to do ‘wrong actions’.

It is to be noted here that the government had assured the Supreme Court of holding talks with the opposition over elections in two provinces on April 26.

During SC’s last hearing on polls delay case, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) had assured the Supreme Court that they will sit with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and try to find a solution on the election date.