SC writes to CAA on search of CJ Isa’s wife at airport

Expresses surprise at timing of leaking old CAA letter regarding exemption of judges' spouses from body search

ISLAMABAD:

The Supreme Court has expressed surprise over the timing of leaking the Civil Aviation Authority’s (CAA) letter regarding the exemption of Supreme Court judges' spouses from body search at airports.

The SC Public Relations Officer (PRO) has written a letter to the CAA secretary as well as director general Airport Society giving an explanation about the leaked letter which has gone viral on social media and has also become the source of criticism against judges.

The SC PRO has also raised several questions over the leakage of the CAA's letter.

It is stated that the CAA's Oct 12 letter surprisingly found its way to the media immediately after Justice Qazi Faez Isa and his wife left Pakistan for Turkiye during the Supreme Court’s winter vacations.

"In the interest of full disclosure kindly also disclose the Registrar of the Supreme Court’s letter of 21st September, 2023 to correct the misconceptions. The body search exemption rule was not made by the Supreme Court nor was exemption sought. The Registrar had simply pointed out an anomaly, which was that the spouses of retired

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Supreme Court Judges were exempt from body search but those of serving Judges were not.

“Your letter while resolving the anomaly does not offer an explanation. And, neither the ASF nor the Government of Pakistan is concerned about the security breach."

The SC PRO noted that the coincidentally interesting timing of the letter, written 66 days ago, now came into the public domain; immediately on Justice Isa’s departure from Pakistan.

"Body search exemption cards for spouses have not been received. It is also pointed out that departing from Pakistan, on 16th December, 2023, Mrs Isa herself went into the cubicle of the ASF and was searched by a lady officer; the recording by cameras installed at the airport will confirm this; no exemption sought, nor given."

Justice Isa was offered, but declined, the use of the VIP lounge at Islamabad Airport. “Justice Isa also declined the use of the luxury limousine which drives VIPs right up to the aircraft."