Now Lebanon - Qortbawi: I do not interfere in the judiciary - September 05, 2011

Justice Minister Shakib Qortbawi told Voice of Lebanon (100.5) radio on Monday that he does not interfere in the judiciary’s work.
Asked about the verdict against retired general Fayez Karam, Qortbawi said: “I want to remind everyone that I am a justice minister and not a judge or head of court. I do interfere in the judiciary.”
Lebanon's military court on Saturday sentenced Karam – also a Free Patriotic Movement official – to two years in prison for leaking information to Israel.
Qortbawi also commented on the controversy over the proposed electricity plan, saying if proposal – made by the Change and Reform bloc – is not approved, then power rationing in the country will increase to 12 hours a day.
He added that the electricity plan is an emergency one, adding that it is not political and concerns all citizens.
The parliament in August adjourned the discussion of the draft law proposed by the Change and Reform bloc to transfer $1.2 billion in funds to the Energy Ministry, while ministers have yet to approve the proposal.