PTI govt’s legal team preparing response to Justice Isa’ plea

Justice Isa's legal team, led by Muneer A Malik, will appear before the full court on October 8


Hasnaat Maik October 06, 2019
Justice Qazi Faez Isa. PHOTO: FILE

ISLAMABAD: The government’s legal team is busy preparing a concise statement over the legal questions raised by Supreme Court judge Qazi Faez Isa in his petition against the presidential reference filed against him in May this year

A 10-judge full-court led by Justice Umar Ata Bandial will hear the petition on October 8.

On September 24, the court sought a concise statement from the federal government within a week over Justice Isa’s plea and eight other petitions filed by superior bars against the reference. Interestingly, the government has yet to engage a private counsel in this case.

Justice Isa's legal team, led by Muneer A Malik, will appear before the full court on October 8.

They are working on establishing that the government’s move to file a reference is based on mala fide intent. If the legal team proves the case, the reference may be quashed in view of the July 2007 judgment in former CJP Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry’s case.

A debate is also underway in bar rooms about the fate of Justice Isa’s case.

The most significant aspect is that the petitioner, Justice Isa, is a sitting judge who is confidently hearing cases and all superior bars are backing him.

Legal observers are interested as to whether or not the presidential reference against Justice Isa will be concluded during the tenure of Chief Justice of Pakistan Asif Saeed Khosa who is retiring in the month of December and if the full court would deliver a unanimous verdict.

The apex court will also hear a petition filed by National Assembly Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf on Monday against the Balochistan High Court election tribunal’s decision to declare his election null and void.

SP Rao Anwar’s petition seeking the removal of his name from the exit control list will also be heard on Monday. On October 22, the court will hear a National Accountability Bureau (NAB) petition against the Lahore High Court’s orders to grant bail to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz President Shahbaz Sharif in corruption cases.

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