Dr Mirza condemns malicious social media campaign against Justice Gulzar

De facto health minister vows to assist the honourable court and serve people to the best of his ability

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr Zafar Mirza has condemned the recent social media malicious campaign against Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Gulzar Ahmed after the apex court raised questions over the government's handling of the coronavirus crisis.

Dr Mirza's condemnation came days after being reprimanded by Prime Minister Imran Khan for failing to satisfy the Supreme Court on the federal government's measures to curb the spread of Covid-19.

While hearing a suo motu notice on the Covid-19 crisis earlier this month, Justice Gulzar had raised questions over the competence of Dr Mirza, saying that the federal government should remove him from his post which led to the social media campaign against the top judiciary.

In a tweet from his official handle on Sunday, the de facto health minister said he holds high regards for the country's apex court and its judges and would make all-out efforts to assist the court.



"I have the highest respect & regard for the Hon’ble Chief Justice of Pakistan i.e. Justice Gulzar Ahmed, who is well known for his integrity, competence & patriotism & I hold all the Judges of the SC in the highest esteem," Dr Mirza said in the tweet.

I have the highest respect & regard for the Hon’ble Chief Justice of Pakistan i.e. Justice Gulzar Ahmed, who is well known for his integrity, competence & patriotism & I hold all the Judges of the SC in the highest esteem. <284>

— Zafar Mirza (@zfrmrza) April 19, 2020

"I strongly condemn the recent social media campaign against the Judiciary & would like to clarify that I stand with the Hon’ble Chief Justice & Judges of the SC and will do all to assist the Hon’ble Court & shall continue to work to serve the people to the best of my ability," he said in a follow-up tweet.

I strongly condemn the recent social media campaign against the Judiciary & would like to clarify that I stand with the Hon’ble Chief Justice & Judges of the SC and will do all to assist the Hon’ble Court & shall continue to work to serve the people to the best of my ability.

— Zafar Mirza (@zfrmrza) April 19, 2020

The prime minister had also ordered the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) director general to launch an inquiry against the people responsible for running the social media campaign against the country’s top judge and other members of the superior judiciary.