In a major development, the Judicial Commission conducting investigations into audio leaks has announced that the proceedings will be made public.
Pertinent to mention that the commission, headed by Justice Qazi Faez Isa, was formed on May 20 under Section 3 of the Pakistan Commission of Inquiry Act 2017 and is required to conclude the task within a month.
According to the details, the commission held its inaugural meeting at the Supreme Court’s courtroom no. 7 earlier today where Justice Isa sought the complete names and addresses of all those involved in the audio leaks.
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Chief Justice of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) and Chief Justice Naeem Akhtar and Attorney General also participated in the meeting as they are part of the three-member commission headed by Justice Isa.
The judicial commission announced that it would make the proceedings public. However, it added that the commission could review any request for an in-camera session if any sensitive matter is brought to light.
Judicial Commission for probing ‘audio leaks and their impact on integrity of judiciary’ to start proceeding in SC Court Room No. 7 today.
It will be headed by Justoce Qazi Faez Isa along with Chief Justices of Balochistan & Islamabad High Court.
— Asad Kharal (@AsadKharal) May 22, 2023
Important to note that PTI Chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan on Monday 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 (CJP).
Lately, Pakistan is witnessing a slew of audio leaks featuring prominent political leaders, government officials, and even lawyers and judges. These leaked audios hinted at potential corruption, misconduct, and political influence within the judiciary, raising serious concerns about the integrity of the judicial system.
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In response to the gravity of the situation, the government of Pakistan established a high-powered judicial commission to conduct a thorough investigation into the audio leaks. The federal government tasked the panel to complete the job within 30 days.