Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider on Saturday assailed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif over the proposed legislation in connection with the judiciary.

Addressing an event in Kahuta, Haider said: "Why does the premier himself want to select the judges? Whoever comes on the merit should be appointed as the chief justice.”

“When you had brought somebody from number 7, then what he had done is now part of the history,” he maintained.

Haider said, “We stress the need for embracing the merit when we are in opposition. But as we get into power, we feel that what we are doing reflects merit.”

“We feel that the opinion of the opposition or anybody else is not about merit. As a governor, I am thinking that the desires are my merit. I think this thinking is quite unfortunate,” he said.

The Punjab governor said: “The system should be run on merit.

Haider stated: “When the chief justice retires, let him go. Why to give him the extension?”

– Punjab govt, governor lock horns over VCs’ appointment –

Earlier on Friday, the Punjab government locked horns on Friday over the appointment of the vice chancellors at the universities in the province.

Expressing his thoughts on Samaa TV, Punjab Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat said: “Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider Hayat cannot reject the summary of the appointment of the vice chancellors at the universities.”

“If the Punjab governor wants to appoint the like-minded VC, so that is not going to happen. He [Punjab governor] cannot appoint the VCs at will,” said Hayat.

“The Punjab governor has no authority to refuse the summary pertaining to the appointment of the VC,” said Hayat.

He maintained: “The Punjab chief minister has the authority to send one name to the Punjab governor, and it is compulsory for the Punjab governor to approve the name given by the chief minister.”

“Meanwhile, we cannot do anything if the governor does not like the name we send for the appointment of the VC,” said Hayat.

Asking the Punjab governor to refrain from “staging politics” on education, Hayat said: “The Punjab governor should not force us to say anything that will hurt the sentiments.”

“The law will take its course if the Punjab governor will try to spark controversy on the matters relevant to education,” he added.

“The candidates who were refused had contacted the Punjab governor. The rejected candidates are unpleased,” Hayat added.

The Punjab governor is the chancellor of the universities. It would have been better if he did anything for the uplift of education. But he has never contacted the government for the improvement of the universities,” said the education minister.

The minister made it clear that the action will be taken against those who will look to interrupt the educational process.