Toshakhana case: PTI to lodge reference against IHC top judge
PTI supporters condemn the attack on the 'long march' convoy held by Pakistan's former leader Imran Khan in Wazirabad. PHOTO: REUTERS
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) urged Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Aamer Farooq on Tuesday to recuse himself from hearing the Toshakhana case against former prime minister Imran Khan.
The PTI Core Committee, while “vehemently denouncing” the adjournment of the hearing of the case until Thursday, announced that the party would file a reference against Chief Justice Aamer Farooq.
In response to Tuesday’s court proceedings, the committee said that a person who appeared to be influenced by “bias should not hold the position of chief justice, nor should he be entrusted with the responsibility” of delivering justice.
Criticising the top IHC judge, the committee stated that a “person lacking professional integrity and ethical values has transformed the court into a platform for political manipulation”.
The PTI Core Committee stated that justice delayed was tantamount to murdering justice, and accused the chief justice of playing “a significant role in this miscarriage of justice”.
Read also: Toshakhana: IHC seeks arguments on Imran’s plea on Thursday
Further underscoring their stance, the committee highlighted that the deliberate delay in the proceedings was aimed at perpetuating “a cycle of vengeance and hostility” against the PTI chairman.
The committee urged the chief justice of Pakistan to take notice of the decision-making approach of the IHC chief justice and safeguard the integrity of the esteemed house of justice.
In its pursuit of upholding the concept of independence of judiciary, the committee announced that it intended to submit a reference to the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) against Chief Justice Aamer Farooq.
The core committee said that the chief justice of Pakistan should ensure the protection of the PTI chairman’s fundamental right to a fair trial under Article 10-A of the Constitution.