Fazl 'surprised' at IMF meeting with CJ

Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman expressed his "surprise" at a meeting between an International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation and Chief Justice Yahya Afridi, saying on Wednesday that it could indicate the IMF's lack of trust in the country judiciary.

However, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif sought to dispel the impression of any negativity around the Tuesday's meeting at the Supreme Court, saying that judiciary's assistance was crucial to the federal government's efforts for enforcing financial discipline, which was an IMF condition.

On Tuesday, an IMF delegation, led by Joel Turkewitz, met with Chief Justice Afridi. A statement from the apex court stated that the discussions during the meeting centred on judicial accountability and the mechanisms for addressing complaints against judges.

Fazl told reporters that he was surprised. "It is a unique event not only in the history of Pakistan but also in the world that the IMF people are meeting with the judges," he said. "Good economy is linked to the dispensation of justice. It seems that the IMF has reservations about our justice system."

Speaking on the floor of the National Assembly, Khawaja Asif said that the meeting took place with the judiciary's consent. "The government is making efforts to implement financial discipline. It is also the condition of the IMF. The judiciary has a great role in implementing financial discipline," he said.

Asif clarified that no one had imposed any decision for the meeting. "It [judiciary] could have refused the meeting, however, the judiciary held the meeting," he said, adding that the IMF had no role other than to seek support from the judiciary to support for efforts to implement financial discipline.