The National Assembly witnessed a heated discussion during question time regarding a recent meeting between the International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation and the chief justice of Pakistan (CJP).
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) member Noor Alam Khan raised the issue, questioning the capacity in which the IMF representatives met with CJP Yahya Afridi. "Please tell me in what capacity and with whose permission the IMF delegation met the chief justice?" he asked.
Responding to the query, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif stated that the meeting likely took place with the consent of relevant authorities. "The IMF delegation must have requested a meeting, and the chief justice must have granted them time," he said.
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Asif suggested that the meeting could have been held under financial discipline matters, given Pakistan’s ongoing economic challenges. "Our country is going through various financial difficulties, and the judiciary should support in financial matters," he added.
The defence minister emphasized Pakistan’s reliance on the IMF for economic stability. "Our economic breathing has been restored due to the IMF," he remarked, adding that seeking the IMF's assistance was not a choice but a necessity forced upon the government.
