ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Wednesday accepted Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry’s explanation after the minister was summoned for comments “ridiculing the court” over the transfer of Inspector-General of Police Islamabad Jan Muhammad. The apex court had also taken exception to Minister for Science and Technology Azam Swati’s statement.
Fawad had questioned the purpose of holding elections in the country if the elected prime minister could not even suspend an IGP.
He had said the apex court was a respectable institution but asserted that the premier and chief ministers will “not shy away from using their rightful authority”.
During the hearing of a suo motu case pertaining to IGP’s transfer, a three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Saqib Nisar and comprising Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Asif Saeed Khosa, had summoned the ministers.
Justice Ahsan said the ministers’ statements were “irresponsible” and “indirectly ridiculing the court”.
Reacting to the information minister’s statement, Justice Nisar observed that the Constitution had given SC the authority to take notice of the matter. “The prime minister can exercise his discretion under the law and rule. He has no unfettered powers,” the top judge remarked.
