Lawyers condemn reference against Justice Faez Isa

Justice Isa is being targeted in light of the report about Quetta bomb blast, claim lawyers

KARACHI: Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) Senior Vice President Salahuddin Gandapur and other senior lawyers claimed that Justice Qazi Faez Isa was being targeted in light of the report issued by the inquiry commission investigating the Quetta bomb blast.  Speaking at a press conference, Gandapur said that the lawyers are enraged because the government's decision is based on ill-will, [unduly] targeting [Justice Isa].

He maintained that there are as many as 205 pending references against many judges, though most of them are still serving on their posts. But the references are expedited against judges who refuse to toe the line, he said.

He claimed that hearing of references, filed against judges government has some grievance against, is expedited.

He further said that court's decision on Faizabad sit-in case did not please the government," implying that it was one of the factors that led to the filing of a reference against Justice Isa.

Former SCBA president Yasin Azad claimed that "the reference had not been filed on the orders of the elected government but on the directives of other elements." He demanded to be informed of the reasons compelling the government to file the reference.

He referred back to the President's statement about the reference and said that the President had said that he was asked to change the wordings of the reference, adding that the Ministry of Law had also expressed its ignorance of any such reference being developed earlier.

Azad also lambasted the Federal Board of Revenue for its irresponsible conduct. The first notice issued by the FBR was given to Justice Isa's wife and he didn't receive it, said Azad. According to Azad, the matter should have been followed by a proper inquiry by the FBR.

Justice Isa has written two letters to the president, requesting to be provided with the copies of the reference but he hasn't received any, he said.

Azad appealed to the Supreme Judicial Council to ensure that Justice Isa gets justice.

Gandapur said that lawyers across Pakistan would observe strike on June 14 and until the reference against Justice Isa is withdrawn, the strike wouldn't be called-off.

Azad echoed Gandapur's views and said that all lawyers are standing in solidarity with the Supreme Judicial Council. He informed that further decisions regarding the protest would be taken in a Pakistan Bar Council's meeting scheduled to take place today.

Referring to the division in the lawyer community with regards to the reference filed against Justice Isa, Gandapur said that some lawyers, who have formed a separate group by the name of Lawyers' Action Committee, have been incited by others.

Azad said that some individuals belonging to certain political parties are opposing the strike but they are not the elected representatives of the people and only elected representative and Pakistan Bar Council can issue a call for a strike.

Gandapur said that SCBA would continue the fight and struggle for an independent judiciary. He expressed views that the dismissal of Justice Isa would set a bad example and would set a precedent of dismissing judges who have been serving justice.  

Published in The Express Tribune, June 12^th, 2019.