Pakistan

No reference filed against Justice Khosa: AGP

Says it appears someone is trying to create a wedge between legislature, judiciary

Hasnaat Mailk August 19, 2017

Ayaz Sadiq. PHOTO: PID

ISLAMABAD: There was a firestorm on local media after it was reported that the National Assembly speaker had filed a complaint against Supreme Court Judge Justice Asif Saeed Khosa in the Supreme Judicial Council, alleging that the judge had violated the sanctity of the speaker’s office.

The draft of a four-page document presumed to be a reference against Justice Khosa, the head of the five-member bench that disqualified former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, was first aired on a private TV channel and later on other media outlets.

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No one from the office of National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq clarified it for hours and even Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi did not explicitly deny it when confronted by the media in Quetta.

“Not to my knowledge,” was the response of the attorney general at noon. He also did not deny it outright.

The office of the NA speaker remained mum till late in the evening, fomenting speculation at a time when the ruling PML-N is already in confrontation mode with the judiciary and the establishment.

Interestingly, copies of the draft shared with the media had some pages missing, including the last page which would have had the signatures of the authorised person. Likewise, it has been learnt that a draft, although prepared, has not been filed yet.

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According to the draft, the speaker is complaining about the judge’s April 20 verdict in which he questioned Sadiq’s ruling in favour of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif.

The draft says, “Unfortunately Justice Khosa in his judgment has attributed a failure on part of the speaker to inquire into or investigate the matter or to refer it to the Election Commission of Pakistan”. It is also stated that such biased and unwarranted findings of the judge against the speaker damaged the office of the speaker, “which is respected worldwide”.

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In the evening, AGP Ashtar Ausaf Ali said no reference against Justice Khosa had been filed.

“It appears that someone or some political party is trying to create a wedge between the legislature and the judiciary,” he said in a statement.

“You may have noticed a lot of disinformation being spread around. The idea seems to be to create despondency,” he added.

COMMENTS (11)

Javaid Khan | 7 years ago | Reply What a shameful use of speakers office by PML Darbari. If this method of maligning a judge by a controversial speaker is accepted than every criminal against whom a judgment is passed by the honorable Judges would get a right to send a reference to the Supreme Judicial Council. Who wrote this reference and passed on to the media ?.Another DAWN leak like JIT should be formed.

Raziuddin Syed | 7 years ago | Reply Stupidity by the Govt functionaries. Every step that they are taking is dumping the country into mockery worldwide. Unluckily they have set themselves to defame Pakistan around the globe and raise hatred against the Pakistanis working abroad.

VIEW MORE COMMENTS

Hugh Slaman | 7 years ago | Reply @Simple Truth: No conspiracy here! There has been an ongoing expose of the crimes of PML-N starting with the 2014 dharna. You are witnessing the results.

salman | 7 years ago | Reply @Simple Truth: Kh asif said there is no conspiracy on TV. Today PM said the govt is the establishment and that NAB cases should be filed. There's the real truth :) Oh, the reference was not filed. Just like the revolutionary agenda of Nawaz was not provided on the 14th of Aug. Just like the money trail was not provided. Just like the Qatari did not show up. PMLN is just all talk....

Simple Truth | 7 years ago | Reply If this reference has indeed been filed, Kudos to PML(N); at least someone is showing the courage to expose the grand conspiracy that took place over the last several months. Agree 100% with every single word of the reference filed.

Lolz | 7 years ago | Reply This is how PML-N is a much bigger threat to institutions than a dictator.

Tariq Shamsi | 7 years ago | Reply It is amazing to what level the stooges of Nawaz will stoop. Mr. Justice Asif Saeed Khosa is a honourable and respected judge of the Supreme Court and his knowledge and fair handedness is well known. All this drama is being staged by the master puppeteers NS and AZ. No matter how they rave and rant at each other - both are fearful for their ill gotten wealth. None of the two has any love for democracy or for the people of Pakistan. It is time the People stood up for themselves and banished these two. It will be good riddance of bad rubbish.

Lei | 7 years ago | Reply What a Shame! Nawaz party is best at setting horrible precedences. Every criminal should now file a complaint against the judge who convicts his friend!

Sami | 7 years ago | Reply Solid legal points have been raised in the complaint. His bias precludes him from being appointed CJ in the future.

ABDUL RAHMAN KHAN | 7 years ago | Reply A speaker is supposed to be neutral in the house. He is also not supposed to indulge in politics outside the house. DID HE?

Amir | 7 years ago | Reply Honorable Speaker? How much you master have paid you to do this. Hope now the court takes you to task, and asks you to show the documents ex PM gave you as proofs of his business and assets in the parliament.

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