ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Umar Ata Bandial has expressed serious displeasure over recent audio and video leaks related to judges of the superior judiciary, and warned of intervention if any malafide intention is found in the way of holding free and transparent elections.
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During the course of hearing a case related to appeal against the transfer of CCPO Lahore Ghulam Mahmood Dogar on Wednesday, Chief Justice Bandial remarked “It is sad to say that baseless and false allegations are made against us in audio and video leaks”, adding that “what is the authenticity of these tapes?”
The CJP warned of court’s intervention if it found any ‘malafide intention’ in the way of holding transparent elections.
The Chief Justice warned that the apex court is “showing great patience”. He added that at times, the remarks of the top court are misunderstood.
Stating that the judiciary is also being attacked, he maintained that the “judiciary will also be protected”.
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The CJP also said that “We are protecting constitutional institutions like the ECP. We also expect that the Constitution will be protected”.
It may be recalled that the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) on March 10 filed a reference against Supreme Court’s Justice Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi in the Supreme Judicial Council seeking an action against him over alleged misconduct after he came under spotlight following audio leaks purportedly involving him, former Punjab chief minister Parvez Elahi and others.
Several bar councils too have stated that, purely on the basis of recent audio leaks, authenticity of which couldn’t be ascertained as yet, they plan to file six separate references before the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) on the misconduct of the judge under Article 209 of the Constitution.
