Tarar downplays CJ, IMF meeting

ISLAMABAD

While acknowledging that an International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation met with the chief justice in view of the “letters” being sent by the PTI, a minister downplayed the significance of the meeting, claiming that during the interaction the delegation did not discuss the merit of legal cases.

“Letters were being written to the IMF, urging them to intervene, which is why they had requested a meeting with the chief justice [Yahya Afridi],” Federal Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Azam Nazeer Tarar told the Senate on Thursday.

The minister was responding to a question of JUI-F Senator Kamran Murtaza, who noted that while no one else is allowed to meet the chief justice, the IMF delegation was able to do so.

According to Tarar, the meeting between the IMF officials and the CJ took place in a pleasant atmosphere, where points regarding the rule of law in the country were discussed.

The minister noted that the 26th Constitutional Amendment “might have been discussed during the meeting. However, the IMF did not comment on the merits of legal cases.

“The IMF delegation [also] met with the chief justice, who is the head of the judiciary and oversees various programmes that receive grants from foreign countries,” Tarar added.

On Thursday, the Senate session was presided over by Deputy Chairman Syedaal Khan.

During the session, ANP Senator Haji Hidayatullah raised a point of order, stating that ANP had submitted a request to hold a public gathering at Rawalpindi’s Liaquat Bagh but had yet to receive a response from the PML-N led Punjab government.

He noted that similar gatherings had been held in other provinces without any incidents and reiterated that the ANP, as a proponent of non-violence, should not be denied permission.

He said all necessary preparations had been made for the rally scheduled for Friday 3pm and warned that refusal to grant permission could create issues.

He urged the provincial government to reconsider its stance and immediately approve the event. He also mentioned rumors that the provincial government was deliberately blocking the gathering.

Senator Shibli Faraz said the PTI was not permitted to hold rallies in any province except Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) where the party rules.

He criticized the Punjab government for fearing political gatherings and assured the ANP of his party’s support. “The PTI fully supports the right of all political parties to organize rallies in the K-P.”

Senator Haji Hidayatullah reiterated the ANP’s commitment to democracy and expressed gratitude to the K-P government for allowing their gatherings in Dir, Swat, Bannu, and other districts.

PPP Senator Sherry Rehman stated that holding a gathering in Rawalpindi was the ANP’s democratic right as long as it remains peaceful.

Senator Irfan Siddiqui of the PML-N echoed her remarks, praising the ANP’s history of peaceful protests. He recalled a past ANP rally at Liaquat Bagh that ended in tragedy and fully endorsed the demand, pledging to take up the matter with Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.