Lahore High Court Chief Justice Muhammad Qasim Khan on Thursday questioned the role of unelected persons in the government, saying they “think about companies, not the people”.

According to 24NewsHD TV channel, Chief Justice Qasim, while hearing the petrol crisis case, observed that those elected by the people were thinking in terms of public welfare. “There is a noise that the unelected people are running the government,” he remarked.

In the end, the special assistant to the prime minister diverted the attention from the real reason behind the crisis, remarked Chief Justice Qasim. “On one hand, there is the prime minister’s special assistant and the entire cabinet on the other.”

About the working of the federal cabinet, the chief justice observed that everyone was equal at the time of making decisions and added, “No one is important or unimportant.”

In his remarks, he further observed that it seemed the person writing the cabinet meeting minutes had tried to please the prime minister. “It seems to be the prime minister’s decision, not the cabinet,” Chief Justice Qasim observed, as cabinet meeting minutes were presented before the court.

He said the oil marketing companies used to take advantage of the increase in prices. Instead of sharing the details of supply, it was said that the oil [petroleum products] was available but the citizens were buying more because of rumours, the chief justice observed.

An elected person, Chief Justice Qasim, had to face the people, had to face the people even if he was a minister.

“The unelected people grab their bag and go to offices. This is the difference between elected and unelected people,” he observed.