Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial has reacted strongly to the government’s objection to his inclusion in the bench hearing the audio leaks case and has warned the government from interfering in judicial affairs.
According to the details, a five-member bench was formed to hear pleas challenging the formation of a judicial commission tasked to probe audio leaks involving the judiciary. The bench is being headed by CJP Bandial and comprises Justice Ijaz Ul Ahsan, Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice Syed Hassan Azhar Rizvi, and Justice Shahid Waheed.
During the hearing today, Attorney General for Pakistan Mansoor Usman Awan objected to the inclusion of CJP Bandial in the bench hearing petitions, which resulted in a strong reaction from the CJP.
Read more: Leaked audio saga: Judicial Commission vows to make investigation public
“How can the government select judges of the Supreme Court [to serve] its own purpose?” the CJP remarked in response.
“Attorney general sahib, this is a matter concerning the judiciary’s independence. Enough is enough attorney general sahib, take a seat,” CJP Bandial said, further adding that the government cannot have judges included in benches “as per its wishes”.
“Don’t interfere with our administrative powers,” Justice Bandial told the AGP. “We have complete respect for the government,” he said, adding that the judiciary was the protector of basic human rights.
حکومت کسی جج کو اپنی مرضی کے مطابق بنچ میں نہیں بٹھا سکتی، چیف جسٹس
— Dunya News (@DunyaNews) May 26, 2023
اٹارنی جنرل صاحب! بہت ہوگیا آپ بیٹھ جائیں، چیف جسٹس
— Dunya News (@DunyaNews) May 26, 2023
حکومت کسی جج کو اپنی مرضی کے مطابق بینچ میں نہیں بٹھا سکتی،چیف جسٹس
ہم نے سوال پوچھا کہ 184 بی میں لکھا ہے کم از کم 5 ججز کا بینچ ہو،چیف جسٹس
اگر آپ نے ہم سے مشورہ کیا ہوتا تو ہم آپ کو بتاتے،چیف جسٹس
9 مئی کے واقعہ کا فائدہ یہ ہوا کہ جوڈیشری کے خلاف جو بیان بازی ہو رہی تھی وہ…
— M Azhar Siddique (@AzharSiddique) May 26, 2023
The federal government formed a three-member judicial commission, led by Supreme Court senior puisne judge Justice Qazi Faez Isa, to probe the multiple audio leaks pertaining to the judiciary.
The other members of the judicial commission include Balochistan High Court Chief Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Islamabad High Court (IHC) CJ Aamer Farooq.
Later, PTI Chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan challenged the audio leaks judicial commission in the Supreme Court. Imran Khan in his plea asked the Supreme Court to strike down the audio leaks commission, citing no judge can be nominated for the commission without the consent of the Chief Justice of Pakistan.
Read more: Imran Khan seeks help from US Congresswoman in new audio leak