Reference against Isa came from above: Imran

LAHORE:

PTI Chairman Imran Khan on Thursday said that the reference against Supreme Court Justice Qazi Faez Isa during his tenure as premier was filed on the orders of an “authority” which was “even superior” to the then DG ISI Lt Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed.

In May 2019, President Arif Alvi, on the advice of Imran, had filed a reference against Justice Isa.

The reference alleged that the judge had acquired three properties in London on lease in the name of his wife and children between 2011 and 2015, but did not disclose them in his wealth returns.

Later, in a rejoinder to the assertions made by the attorney general for Pakistan, Justice Isa stated that he was not under obligation to provide the money trail for his family's properties, saying his wife and adult children were not his dependents and conducted their own affairs.

He further said that the reference was part of a "witch-hunt" aimed at "silencing judges".

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The reference was later quashed by the apex court.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had termed the reference a nefarious conspiracy to divide the independence of judiciary and accused Imran of carrying out a vendetta against the judge.

On Thursday, the PTI chief in an apparent reference to former army chief General Bajwa said that the reference against Justice Isa was filed on the orders of an authority which was even superior to then DG ISI.

He was speaking to media in the federal capital while appearing before the Islamabad High Court (IHC).

“We were told that law is equal for everyone, therefore, (Justice) Faez Isa will also be held accountable. Later, [I] realised that the purpose [of filing reference] was something else,” he said.

“One section [of a society] in Pakistan plunders [nation’s wealth] and takes NRO. Similarly, there is a section (powers that be) where a black Vigo comes and picks up people and no one can ask them (any question).”

Responding to a question about action against “corrupt” army officers if he again comes to power, the former premier said that he will act according to rule of law.

Meanwhile, Imran announced holding rallies in Lahore, Islamabad, Rawalpindi and Peshawar on Saturday (tomorrow) to show solidarity with the Supreme Court and for the supremacy of the Constitution.

He made this announcement through a video message before leaving for a hearing at IHC.

The PTI chairman said he would lead the rally in Lahore to convey to the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial that the people were standing behind the judiciary.

He urged the people to come to the streets on Saturday to express their solidarity with the top judge amid ongoing “conflict” between the judiciary and parliament over the holding of elections in Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

“People must come out of their houses for one hour on May 6 to foil the ‘mafias’ designs against the top judge. Such elements are creating a divide among the Supreme Court judges,” he added.

Castigating the ruling coalition, Imran said it was running away from elections and had been violating the Constitution and opposing the CJP.

“Come out of your houses for the sake of your children’s and country’s future, and tell the chief justice that the nation is standing with you,” he said.

While referring to a senior army officer, he said “Dirty Harry” had hatched another plan to “assassinate him”, adding that news circulated that he and PTI leader Murad Saeed faced life threat from terrorists.

“Everyone should know that ‘Dirty Harry’ is responsible if anything happens to us. I have no threats from foreign agencies or terrorists but from ‘Dirty Harry’,” he alleged.

With input from News Desk