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Thursday, March 14, 2024

Silencing critics: Chief Justice turns judicial jet towards KPK

News Analysis |

The Chief Justice of Pakistan, Mian Saqib Nisa,r arrived in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s capital city, Peshawar on Thursday. CJP inspected different hospitals and a medical institute, silencing critics that his whirlwind visits focused only Punjab, a province ruled by Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz, wary of top judge’s ambitions, before the next general elections.

The top judge focused on issues of health, sanitation, water and education during his KPK tour, which is a matter of special concern for him in all the other provinces as well, thus diminishing the faulty perception that the civilian leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-led province were not being grilled on equal footings.

The top judge also expressed his displeasure that the doctors’ are not being negotiated with, since the doctors’ strikes continue across Balochistan hospitals. CJP also sought details of the budget reserved for health sector.

The Chief Justice reprimanded the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Government over its failure to provide clean drinking water and the dismal state of affairs regarding the disposal of sewage and industrial waste. The Chief justice also ordered Pervez Khattak, KPK Chief Minister, to appear before the court, in the same fashion as he ordered the leaders of Sindh, Punjab and Balochistan.

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As Pervez Khattak appeared before the court, the apex court judge informed him that no improvement was observed in Peshawar’s Lady Reading Hospital; same was conveyed to Salman Rafique, Punjab’s Health Minister, early April. The Chief Justice also remarked that the KPK Government failed in its bid to satisfy the public, a reminiscent of the top judge’s remarks regarding the Punjab government, for which Ahsan Iqbal, Federal Interior Minister had decried the top court, for passing on political remarks.

The Chief Justice did not spare the KPK’s chief executive – contrary to the claims of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz, that Imran Khan was a ‘ladla’ of Supreme Court – and observed that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf -led Government makes tall claims.

The Chief Justice used the same tone in his KPK journey he had used in front of administration of other provinces, remarking that he had to face “hopelessness” from every side. Apart from the Chief Minister, Justice Nisar also chided Azam Khan, KPK Chief Secretary, over disposing off waste in an unsuitable fashion.

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The Chief Justice blatantly remarked that the conditions in hospitals of Karachi and Lahore had improved on the court’s order. The top judge also heard a case about exorbitant fees charged by private medical colleges in the province, on the same lines as in Punjab, and ordered authorities to seize the Al-Razi Medical College’s records and freeze its assets.

CJP inspected different hospitals and a medical institute, silencing critics that his whirlwind visits focused only Punjab, a province ruled by Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz, wary of top judge’s ambitions, before the next general elections.

What gives credence to Chief Justice’ equal and fair treatment to all the provinces is his directives to withdraw security from the unauthorized individuals in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The Chief Justice, had in February, ordered the removal of barriers outside Nawaz Sharif’s Jati Umra residence, Shehbaz Sharif’s Model Town residence, Governor House, Jamia Al Qadsia, Aiwan-e-Iqbal, and other areas in Lahore as well.

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The top judge had been facing a social media storm over his inspection of hospitals and medical colleges especially in Punjab. Nawaz Sharif, former Prime Minister, had also censured the top judge over the issue, stating that the motive behind the hospital visits was to target them, however, Chief Justice’ tour to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is crucial in the backdrop of treating the civilian administration of all the provinces in the same manner.

The top judge had summoned Murad Ali Shah, Chief Minister to appear before its Karachi registry in December last year, and clarify his position regarding the contaminated water being provided to the citizens. Afterward, in February, Shehbaz Sharif, Chief Minister Punjab, appeared before the Lahore Registry of the Supreme Court and faced the ire of top judge over the issue of contaminated water.

The Chief Justice did not spare the KPK’s chief executive – contrary to the claims of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz, that Imran Khan was a ‘ladla’ of Supreme Court – and observed that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf -led Government makes tall claims.

The top judge also had a cordial interaction with the Chief Minister, which was also misinterpreted by Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz, that the top judge wanted to see Shehbaz Sharif as the next Prime Minister.

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During the last week, the Chief Justice summoned Abdul Quddus Bizenjo, Chief Minister Balochistan and remarked that he (CJP) was not satisfied with the performance of Balochistan government. The top judge also expressed his displeasure that the doctors’ are not being negotiated with since the doctors’ strikes continue across Balochistan hospitals. CJP also sought details of the budget reserved for health sector.

With the latest two-day visit of war-ravaged Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the top judge would not only put the controversy of discrimination to rest but would probably issue directives which would help improve the conditions of hospitals and educational institutes in the province.