“The criticism of a political party on social media is highly condemnable,” said the ministry in a statement on Sunday. “Political parties should refrain from attacking state institutions.”

The statement comes after a social media campaign against a high court judge.

It merits here to mention that the hearing of PTI chief Imran Khan’s petition pertaining to the suspension of a three-year jail term in the Toshakhana case was due for Monday.

On Friday, the Islamabad High Court adjourned the hearing of a case till August 28 after the Election Commission of Pakistan lawyer failed to appear in court due to being “extremely unwell”.

Khan was sentenced to three years in prison after a trial court in Islamabad on August 5 found guilty of “corrupt practices” in the state gifts. The verdict meant he was disqualified from contesting general elections for five years.