Reacting sharply to Peshawar High Court chief justice’s recent statement wherein he asked the people to elect “capable people” in the coming general elections in the wake of present government’s failure and inefficiency, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain on Tuesday said the judiciary must remain independent and neutral rather then making attempts to influence the masses.
“The decision rests with the people to elect people of their choice,” Hussain remarked while talking to journalists in Peshawar.
“We do respect judiciary and are determined to honor its verdicts, but we didn’t allow the judiciary or judges to indulge themselves in political affairs,” he emphasized.
Hussain recalled that political activists had rendered sacrifices for the independence of judiciary and now it was the utmost responsibility of judges to ensure justice to common men.
In his respect, he said the government and his party were determined to extend due support to the judiciary. He said a judge’s remarks must be in accordance with justice rather then on political grounds.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa information minister claimed that the present government would get the masses’ mandate per its performances.
He drew attention towards the present government’s contribution to combating trends of terrorism and militancy. “No one was able to visit or stay in Swat, but as a result of present government’s firm determination, there exists complete peace in the area.”
He also drew attention towards wide ranging development activities throughout the province.
Hussain claimed that all sorts of development and reconstruction activities were taking place with the consent of opposition parties.
Getting credit of the well-planned strategy for combating terrorism and restoring peace, he said, “There is complete coordination between civil and military administration in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” and as a result terrorists were on the run while peace was returning to the province.
To a question, Hussain said unlike in the past, no single party could emerge victorious in the general election and alliances could be made after the elections.
He said the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government was ready for holding local bodies elections.