PM Imran tells govt spokespersons not to react to CJP's remarks: sources

By
Web Desk
|
Prime Minister Imran Khan. Photo: File

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday dissuaded government spokespersons from commenting on Chief Justice Khosa's statements in which he urged the prime minister not to taunt the judiciary over Nawaz's removal from the ECL, sources told Geo News. 

The prime minister was presiding over a meeting of government spokespersons where told them not to react or respond to the comments made by Chief Justice Khosa. 

"The government decided to send Nawaz Sharif abroad on humanitarian grounds and after consulting doctors' reports," the premier was quoted by sources as saying.

PM Imran also reportedly said that people were watching Nawaz's activities in London. He said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) would not play politics over Nawaz's health.

The foreign funding case also came under discussion during the meeting. The premier reportedly told participants of the meeting not to worry about the case.

"No need to worry about the foreign funding case. PTI's audit reports are there for all to see," he was quoted as saying.

According to sources, the prime minister said that opposition parties were using the case to keep their politics alive and build a narrative against the PTI.

He said that opposition parties were worried as Pakistan's economy was improving.

"Opposition parties know that once the economy improves, their political careers are over," he said.

PM himself agreed to let 'someone' fly abroad: CJP 

Referring to former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s foreign travel on medical grounds, Chief Justice of Pakistan Asif Saeed Khosa said on Wednesday that PM Imran himself agreed for 'someone' to travel abroad, so it should not be said that the judiciary was the sole authority in the matter.

A day ago, the prime minister had said in an indirect reference to Nawaz’s travel to London that there are separate laws for the weak and powerful in the country, requesting the CJP to deliver prompt justice.

While addressing a ceremony in Islamabad, the Chief justice said that the prime minister should not refer to the judiciary as powerful.

"Don't give us this taunt referring to 'the powerful'. Nobody is powerful before us [the judiciary] other than the law itself."

The CJP said that the prime minister should refrain from issuing such statements as he is the chief executive of the government.

"The particular case that the respected prime minister referred to, I do not want to comment on that. But he [PM Imran] should know that they themselves allowed somebody [Nawaz Sharif] to go abroad. The debate in the High Court was only over modalities. Please be careful (with statements)."