The ongoing tussle between the ruling coalition and Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Atta Bandial seems to have reached a point of no return as former Prime Minister Imran Khan is forced to resign after his appeasement.
The Cabinet led by Shehbaz Sharif has been strongly condemning Chief Justice Bandial’s intervention in the arrest of former Prime Minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan. The Federal Cabinet believes that the way the Chief Justice greeted a corruption suspect by saying: “Good to see you” is a stain on the face of justice.
Explaining his stand, Chief Justice Bandial – during the hearing of a case today – addressed lawyer Asghar Sabzwari and said it was “good to see you” as the latter appeared before the chief justice after a long gap. .
The Chief Justice further said that he is being criticized for greeting Imran Khan in the same manner. However, he often uses this phrase.
Chief Justice Bundyal remarked that ‘I treat everyone with respect because respect and decency are essential for everyone’, adding that without these two aspects there is no fun.
The exchange of Chief Justice Bandial with the PTI chief has been the talk of the town since last week when Khan was arrested by the Supreme Court on corruption charges by paramilitary Rangers during a routine appearance at the Islamabad High Court (IHC). Presented in
The arrest brought his supporters onto the streets, burning government buildings, blocking roads and damaging army property, which they blame for Khan’s downfall.
On May 11, a three-judge bench headed by CJP Bandial directed the anti-corruption agency to produce Khan two days after his arrest. Complying with the orders, Khan was presented before the bench in Courtroom No. 1, under heavy security, dressed in a blue dress and a dark blue waistcoat.
Initially, when the former prime minister came to the rostrum, he was welcomed by the chief justice who said “good to see you”. Later, the court extended “extraordinary” relief to the PTI chief, and termed his arrest from the Islamabad High Court premises as “wrongful and illegal”.
The court directed that the NAB and the police will ensure “foolproof” security till the former prime minister appears before the IHC in connection with his plea against the NAB in the Al-Qadir Trust case.
The Chief Justice’s intervention in the federal cabinet meeting chaired by the Prime Minister was condemned. The cabinet also declared that the Chief Justice was “guilty of misconduct” and should be removed from office.
Addressing the cabinet, Prime Minister Shehbaz rejected “double standards of justice”. He also mentioned that the Chief Justice greeting a corrupt accused by saying: “Good to see you” was a blot on the face of justice.
