–Court adjourns hearing till Oct 14, rejects two-week deferment request by Justice Isa’s counsel
–Counsel says case is a trial of entire judiciary, it’s job of bench to safeguard this institution
ISLAMABAD: A 10-member Supreme Court bench hearing over a dozen pleas challenging the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) proceedings against SC justice Qazi Faez Isa on Tuesday adjourned the case till Oct 14, as it refused to defer the hearing for two weeks on Justice Isa counsel Munir A Malik’s request.
The bench headed Justice Umar Ata Bandial said that a member of the bench has to travel out of the country after two weeks; hence, there would be no such delay.
Attorney General Anwar Mansoor also submitted his reply to the petition filed by Justice Isa.
The court directed the attorney general to provide a copy of his reply to all petitioners in the case.
Responding to the reply, Malik argued that while the petition says that allegations against his client were based on malafide intentions, there was no mention of the point in the reply to the petition.
However, the bench insisted that the counsel start his arguments in the case on the same day.
To which, Justice Isa’s counsel replied he didn’t have time to examine the government’s response as it was submitted on the same day as of the hearing.
Justice Bandial said, “We are trying to hear the case as soon as possible.” Referring to earlier delay, the SC judge said the case was delayed earlier because of Malik’s illness.
“The entire nation is looking to this bench, so why hurry? I want the 10-member bench to safeguard this institution,” counsel Malik added.
“We are here to hear cases. Let us know if you want a prolonged deferment of the case,” he said. The head of the bench further said that an “honourable friend” from his “community” has been accused so the bench wants to hear out the matter post haste.
Malik argued that the judge and his family members were spied upon. “A campaign was launched against my client,” he said. Justice Bandial asked the counsel to elaborate his allegation with the help of the background of the case.
Malik responded that his client had passed a verdict which was disliked. “Following the decision, a well-deliberated campaign was launched against my client,” he added.
Justice Bandial said that two judges had also detached themselves from the bench because of the petitioner’s objections. “This was a painful process,” he said.
He noted that the case is one of its kind.
“The case is a trial of the entire judiciary,” retorted Malik.
“Justice Isa is not a ‘gentleman’ who has stolen money from the people,” noted Justice Bandial. “However, there is still an allegation that he acquired three properties dishonestly during his tenure as chief justice of the Balochistan High Court. He also did not disclose them in the wealth statement.”
Justice Bandial said the allegation was a ‘stain’ on the judicial institution, hence, the matter could not be brushed under the rug. He asserted that the top court will maintain its decorum.
A reference had been instituted in May this year against Justice Isa on the request of President Arif Alvi, accusing the judge of concealing his properties in the United Kingdom allegedly held in the name of his wife and children. However, the proceedings were later suspended after over a dozen petitions were filed in the SC against the reference.