LHC verdict: CJP takes umbrage at PM's remarks

In a scathing rejoinder to Prime Minister Imran Khan's recent criticism on judiciary, Chief Justice Asif Saeed Khan Khosa on Wednesday said that it is the government not the judiciary that allowed ex-PM Nawaz Sharif to go abroad for medical treatment.

Addressing the launching ceremony of IT-driven facilities, he said: "The case [allowing Nawaz Sharif abroad for treatment] the Prime Minister is talking about, he [PM Imran Khan] should know it's he [PM] who allowed him [Sharif] to go and not the judiciary."

In the same breath, he continued that while accusing judges of being powerful one should be careful as they're [judges] doing their job like 'worship' and "don't blame us of being powerful."

He said that the judiciary witnessed a silent revolution, as it is the judiciary which sent two sitting prime ministers home, while decision of a case against a former army chief is about to come.

"The Lahore High Court only settled the modalities of the matter," the CJP said in reference to PM Khan's statements in which the Premier urged Justice Khosa and his successor to restore the public trust in the judicial system of the country.

About the removal of Sharif's name from exit control list (ECL), he said he would not comment on the issue, as the matter is still sub judice.

The top judge who is going to retire next month said that they respect the position of the prime minister as he is the elected chief executive of the country, but no one should taunt the judiciary about its powers.

Justice Khosa also did not seem impressed with PM Khan's statements about functioning of the country's judicial system, saying, "Everyone should know that the judges are working harder but no one is perfect."

"A total of 31,000 judges and judicial magistrates throughout the country handled 3.6 million cases despite limited available resources, and disposed them of that had been pending for 25 years," he added.

The Chief Justice welcomed PM Khan's offer to provide extra resources to the judiciary and said such measures would go a long way in improving matters.

He said that establishment of model trial courts across the country has given marvelous results and reduced the backlog of murder and narcotics cases, magistrate trials and civil appeals including rent and family cases.

"The model courts conducted trial of more than 73,000 cases in a short span of time and dispensed relief to the litigants by achieving target of zero pendency in most of districts or district headquarters across the country. Moreover, the Supreme Court of Pakistan also took steps for police reforms and the post of SP complaints was created in each district that has also reduced 30% burden of cases on district courts and 15% on high courts," he added.

Justice Khosa inaugurated a mobile app, Supreme Court Call Center 1818, complete video link facility in 05 courts, Judicial Esta Code, Research Center Progress, and Website Enhancements to facilitate litigants and lawyers.

At the end, he thanked the IT committee of Supreme Court of Pakistan headed by Justice Mushir Alam, a judge of Supreme Court, and comprising Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah and other stakeholders including Law Ministry, NADRA, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL-P) US Department of State, US Department of Justice, and COMSATS Islamabad to materialize the vision of expeditious and inexpensive justice through the application of information technology.