Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial on Tuesday questioned the government whether it has utilized its resources to trace those behind the recording and leaking of audio conversations, while warning the executive from interfering in the Supreme Court’s affairs.
He passed these remarks as a five-judge bench of the Supreme Court (SC) resumed hearing pleas challenging the formation of a judicial commission led by Justice Qazi Faez Isa to probe audio leaks.
The bench also comprises Justice Ijazul Ahsan, Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi and Justice Shahid Waheed.
The petitions, which were filed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President Abid Zuberi, SCBA Secretary Muqtedir Akhtar Shabbir, and attorney Riaz Hanif Rahi, asked the top court to rule that the formation of the panel was unlawful.
The federal coalition had formed the commission on May 20 under Section 3 of the Pakistan Commission of Inquiry Act 2017. Led by senior puisne judge Justice Isa, the commission also comprises Balochistan High Court Chief Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Aamer Farooq.
On May 28, the top court restrained the panel from going ahead with its task. The verdict was issued by the five-member bench hearing the case.
Subsequently, the government-appointed commission decided to put its proceedings on hold until the SC decided the petitions.
Last week, both the commission and the government had objected to SC proceedings.
“How and where are the audio leaks emerging from? Who is behind this?” Justice Bandial inquired.
He also warned the executive from interfering in the Supreme Court’s affairs.
He lambasted Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Uman Awan for saying that “two judges, including the chief justice, are involved in the matter”.
