Opposition expresses 'grave concerns' over reference against judges

Opposition says the reference is a 'direct attack on the independence of the judiciary'

The opposition on Friday submitted a resolution expressing "grave concerns" over a reference filed against Supreme Court's Justice Qazi Faez Isa and Sindh High Court Justice K K Agha over non-disclosure of their spouses’ foreign assets in their wealth statements.

The opposition calls the references a "direct attack on the independence of the judiciary", saying it is "aimed at stifling the voices of reason, truth and justice in the judiciary".



Expressing solidarity with the judges, the opposition added that it "calls upon the Government to withdraw the references".

In a letter to president, Justice Isa seeks clarity on reference reports

A senior government official told The Express Tribune that it has been alleged that SC judge’s wife owns three properties abroad and these have not been disclosed in the wealth statement. Likewise, SHC judge wife’s two properties have not been disclosed. The official alleges that non-disclosure is a violation of Section 116 of Income Tax Ordinance 2001.

Talking to The Express Tribune, renowned lawyer Faisal Siddiqi said the reference against Justice Isa has absolutely nothing to do with the accountability of judges but rather the "right of accountability is being misused to silence judicial dissent against unconstitutional actions of the state. “

"All judges should realise that if such a malafide reference against Justice Isa succeeds, no judge will be safe. People should have no doubt that the judicial repression of 2007 is repeating itself in new forms,” Siddiqi added.

Additional Attorney General Zahid F Ebrahim also resigned from office a day after the government filed a reference over alleged misconduct by superior court judges.