Justice Isa losing support of bar leaders

Members of Professional Group express disappointment at the SC’s January 13 order

ISLAMABAD:

 

Despite the announcement of solidarity by superior bars, Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJ) Qazi Faez Isa is losing support from one section of lawyers—the Professional Lawyers Group. The Independent Lawyers Group, also known as the Asma Jahangir Group, holds the majority in the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) and the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA).

Currently, this group is aligned with the PML-N, the PPP, and the security establishment. It played a key role in the successful no-confidence motion moved against former prime minister and PTI founder Imran Khan under Article 95 of the Constitution in March 2022.

The Professional Lawyers Group, which is pro-PTI, is in the minority in both superior bars. However, when the PTI-led government filed a presidential reference against Justice Isa in May 2019, both lawyer groups united in support of the judge.

The leadership of the Professional Group—Muneer A Malik, Salahuddin Ahmed, and Hamid Khan—were even part of Justice Isa's legal team. Hamid Khan had openly criticized PTI’s policy towards Justice Isa. However, members of the Professional Group are now expressing disappointment at the Supreme Court’s January 13 verdict, which dealt a heavy blow to the former ruling party by depriving it of its iconic election symbol—the cricket bat.

Read  SC deals final blow to PTI’s ‘bat’ hopes

They believe the court order will have far-reaching implications for democracy, and the credibility of the upcoming elections is now at stake. PBC member Muneer Kakar, associated with the Professional Group, expressed wonder as to how the SC could deprive citizens of their constitutional right by knocking out one political party on technical grounds.

Meanwhile, the Independent Group demanded that the caretaker government take action against those running a malicious campaign against CJP Qazi Faez Isa. Responding to the call, the federal government has formed a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to probe into the campaign.

Read Can PTI bat without bat?

CJ Qazi Faez Isa has been facing a malicious campaign on social media since the filing of a presidential reference against him in 2019. Even state institutions were allegedly involved in defaming the judge and his family members. Interestingly, the then-government remained silent on that campaign.

Now, when state institutions require the SC's help to counter the PTI, a JIT is being formed to please SC judges, especially CJP Isa. It is noteworthy that despite facing severe criticism, Justice Isa’s predecessor Umar Ata Bandial had shown restraint.

Some senior lawyers believe that the JIT might have chilling effects on freedom of speech. They said CJ Isa needs to ensure that the JIT is not used to target those who are not in the good books of the establishment. Those who troll judges are on good terms with powerful circles, they claimed.

Interestingly, the JIT will not investigate campaigns launched against high court judges. There is a need to find out the mastermind behind the campaign against Islamabad High Court judge Mohsin Akhtar Kayani and the Peshawar High Court judges who recently gave relief to the PTI in the election symbol case, they added.