ISLAMABAD, March 13: Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim on Tuesday criticised the opposition parties for what he called politicising the issue of suspension of Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry and termed their protest outside the Supreme Court building an attack on judiciary.

Speaking at a hurriedly called press conference at the Sindh House, Dr Rahim alleged that after joining hands with opposition leaders the chief justice had lost his neutrality.

The Sindh chief minister criticised Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan for his overwhelming support to the chief justice. He also criticised the PML-N leadership for staging the protest. He alleged that the PML-N, which had attacked the Supreme Court building in the past and removed a chief justice, was now supporting the chief justice.

In response to a question, Dr Rahim said that he was ready to appear before the Supreme Judicial Council, if invited, to present proofs against the chief justice for allegedly pressuring the Sindh government to seek protocol.

The Sindh chief minister, however, faced tough questions from reporters during the press conference and failed to answer many. One of the questions about the purpose of holding the press conference angered the chief minister. He said that since he was a provincial chief minister and also the provincial president of the ruling party, therefore, he could hold the news conference.

“I am not bound to tell you everything,” Dr Rahim said in response to a question.