Parliament, Judiciary deserve equal respect, says Saad Rafique

MULTAN: Federal Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique on Saturday said that the ruling PML-N respects the judiciary for being a main pillar of the state so as the parliament and politicians.

Talking to press here, he said the parliament and politicians deserve an equal amount of respect, adding, a confrontation between the institutions would ultimately inflict damage to the state.

On the occasion, he recalled his efforts for restoration of judiciary and said he was jailed for extending his support to the lawyers’ movement.

However, he said the prevailing atmosphere of distrust between the institutions is an outcome of individuals using the judiciary as a platform against their political rivals.

Rafique made these remarks at a time when Supreme Court of Pakistan has issued contempt notices to two of the outspoken leaders of the ruling party; Minister of State for Interior Affairs Talal Chaudhry and Federal Minister for Privatisation Daniyal Aziz.

The top court had earlier awarded one-month prison term to PML-N Senator Nehal Hashmi and disqualified him from holding public office for five years under Article 63 (1)(g) of the constitution.