- SC statement rejects remarks attributed to Justice Nisar, says CJP ‘holds PM in high esteem’
- CJP says there will be no ‘judicial NRO’ or judicial martial law in Pakistan, only democracy will prevail
- Nawaz says he hasn’t talked to Abbasi about his meeting with CJP as yet, however ‘Justice Nisar should not have said what he did’
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) late on Thursday sought to clarify the controversy that had arisen after Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar reportedly called Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi a ‘faryadi’, saying the top judge had not used the word for the premier.
The CJP’s reported comments were met with criticism from the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), as its supreme leader Nawaz Sharif said that PM Abbasi could seek an explanation from Chief Justice Nisar over his remarks.
During a hearing earlier in the day, it was reported that the chief justice had said his job was to listen to the pleas of every ‘faryadi’ (complainant).
“The prime minister came with a plea, and it is my duty to hear everyone’s requests. I didn’t go to the PM House or the Secretariat. They came to visit me,” Chief Justice Nisar was quoted as saying.
However, the SC said in a statement later in the night that the chief justice had not used the term for the prime minister.
“It is categorically stated that this attribution to the Hon’ble Chief Justice of Pakistan Mr Justice Mian Saqib Nisar is completely wrong and malicious,” the statement said.
“[The] chief justice holds the prime minister in high esteem, being the head of the government, and has never used the word ‘faryadi’ for him.”
Any misgivings in this regard should be put to rest, it further said.
‘NEVER SAID SUCH A THING’:
In an informal conversation with journalists at an event on Thursday evening, Chief Justice Nisar had denied calling the prime minister a ‘faryadi’ before the clarification from the apex court was issued.
“Is it appropriate for a judge to call an elected prime minister a ‘faryadi’,” a reporter of a private news channel asked the CJP, to which he responded by saying “I never said that”.
When the reporter said that the chief justice’s comments had been quoted throughout the day in which he had reportedly said ‘a faryadi brought a faryad to him,’ Justice Nisar denied making any such comment.
“I never said such a thing, who said it?” the chief justice said before the reporters were barred from asking more questions by his security protocol.
KHOSA DENIES CJP USED WORD ‘FARYADI’:
To verify the matter, Pakistan Today contacted Advocate Latif Khosa, in whose presence the reported incident took place earlier in the day.
Khosa said that during the hearing of a case pertaining to illegal constructions in Murree, he had told the CJP that he should not have met the prime minister when cases related to the federation are sub judice.
“Khosa sahib, even complainants meet judges,” the lawyer quoted the CJP as having said to him.
The lawyer said that when he reminded the CJP that the person in question was not a complainant but the prime minister of the country the CJP said: “[So what], he came to meet me, I didn’t go to him.”
Nawaz Sharif, who has already been on an anti-judiciary drive with occasional hints of reconciliation, did not waste the opportunity and bashed the judiciary for disrespecting the premier.
“No prime minister would appreciate the remarks made by CJP Saqib Nisar about the meeting,” said Nawaz as he went on to add that the PM could seek an explanation from the chief justice over his remarks, if he deemed fit.
Talking to journalists outside the accountability court hearing corruption reference against him, Nawaz said he hadn’t talked to Abbasi about his meeting with the chief justice yet, however, the chief justice should not have said what he did.
“Every state institution should stay within its constitutional limits,” he stressed.
“Even when Justice Azmat Saeed went on to say that Nawaz needs to know that there is a lot of space in Adiala jail, I remained quiet,” he added.
The three-time premier claimed he never interfered in any other institution’s business. “I never violated my constitutional mandate,” he claimed, pressing other institutions to do the same. It is very important to discuss the importance of the constitution and sanctity of the vote, he added.
In a meeting that has given birth to nationwide speculations and was criticised by the opposition and ruling party, PM Abbasi called on the CJP, ostensibly to defuse tensions between the government and judiciary.
Over the course of the hearing on Thursday, the CJP asserted that he would not disappoint his institution or legal community and urged Advocate Latif Khosa to have faith in him. When Khosa mentioned the chief justice’s meeting with Justice (r) Abdul Rasheed Wali, the CJP responded saying, “I refused to go to his [Wali] house, so he walked to mine.”
‘NO JUDICIAL NRO’:
Separately in a case pertaining to Capital Development Authority’s (CDA) officials on deputation, CJP Nisar assured senior counsel Naeem Bukhari that there will no ‘judicial NRO’ or judicial martial law in the country.
During the hearing, Bukhari claimed that there were talks of a ‘judicial martial law’ these days, especially after the CJP-PM meeting. The chief justice said, “Let me clarify, no judicial martial law or judicial NRO is being planned. There will be only constitution and democracy in the country, nothing else.”
“If I say that nothing is happening then several TV shows will close down,” he took a jibe at mainstream media.
Earlier, the chief justice observed that the judiciary should be critiqued but justly, as this will lead to reforms in the institution.
Why has the so-called “executive” gone mum. The problem is that this Naalaaeq NaaAhl saabiq wazir e Azam cannot read or write. Abbassi has same attributes. He needs his ankles surgery to improve his mental health.Hon’ ble CJ is right in reminding the people.
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