Refuting the accusations made by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, former Chief Justice of Pakistan Saqib Nisar asserted that a premier who swears an oath to the Constitution should not resort to dishonesty.
PM Shehbaz had previously strongly denounced Nisar for allegedly undermining development projects initiated by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government. The prime minister made these comments during the inauguration ceremony of the Urology Department at the Rawalpindi Institute of Urology and Transplantation Hospital (RIUT).
Shehbaz Sharif criticized Saqib Nisar for questioning the expenses associated with the Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute (PKLI) hospital, asking how the hospital became the largest center for COVID-19 patients if Rs20 billion were wasted. He also accused the former chief justice of pressuring the hospital to secure a position for his brother.
In a statement following PM Shehbaz’s condemnation, Nisar refuted the accusations, advising the prime minister not to blame the judiciary for his shortcomings.
Regarding the PKLI, Nisar pointed out that the hospital’s operation theater was non-functional during his tenure as chief justice, and a forensic report exists detailing irregularities in the institute. He dismissed the claim that he sought to appoint his brother to the PKLI and accused PM Shehbaz of making false allegations to mislead the nation. Nisar also mentioned that some officers earned millions in salaries while working for 56 companies.
Addressing another criticism, Nisar explained that opening the court on Sunday is the chief justice’s prerogative. He noted that the public contributed Rs10 billion to the dam fund, and a five-member bench he formed invested the money, which increased to Rs17 billion. While the former chief justice wanted to expedite the dam’s construction, he refrained from mentioning the obstacles encountered.
