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Islamabad: On the letter of the six judges of the Islamabad High Court, the direct hearing of the automatic notice case is going on in the Supreme Court, the Chief Justice remarked that we have a zero tolerance policy for the independence of the judiciary.
A seven-member larger bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faiz Isa is conducting the hearing. The larger bench includes Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Yahya Afridi, Justice Jamal Khan Mandukhel, Justice Athar Manullah, Justice Musrat Hilali and Justice Naeem Akhtar.
At the beginning of the hearing, the Chief Justice said that at the beginning of the hearing of the case, the press release is read first. Advocate Hamid Khan said that we have also filed an application to be a party in this case, we should also be heard in the case.
The Chief Justice of Pakistan remarked that Mr. Hamid Khan, you are a senior lawyer, now the Practice and Procedure Committee decides, the committee cannot exercise the authority of the court nor the court can exercise the authority of the committee, when a constitutional petition is filed. So it is published in newspapers, is this also equivalent to putting some kind of pressure, I do not take any pressure and we should not take pressure in our decisions, it is strange that lawyers demand to take notice automatically.
Advocate Hamid Khan Advocate Lahore High Court Bar said that I have only pointed out, I have filed an application on behalf of Aitzaz Ahsan.
The Chief Justice of Pakistan while talking to the Attorney General said to start with the press release issued by the Supreme Court, on which the Attorney General read the press release. The Chief Justice remarked that we started working as soon as we received the letter with utmost agility, as soon as we received the letter, we met the High Court judges after Iftar in Ramadan, in which Justice Mansoor Ali Shah was also a participant. Could have met but keeping in mind the importance.
Chief Justice Qazi Faiz Isa remarked that we have a zero-tolerance policy for the independence of the judiciary, tell me when the full court meeting was held for the first time. The meeting did not take place, the importance of the institution does not lie with the Chief Justice of Pakistan but with all the judges, if there is an attack on the independence of the judiciary, I will come first and the rest of the judges will also come with me.
The Chief Justice said in his remarks that if anyone has any other agenda, then he should become the president of the Supreme Court, we will not tolerate anyone’s pressure. The meeting was held in the premises of the Supreme Court, this meeting was not held in the chamber or in the house, the independence of the executive and the judiciary also participated in the meeting, see our speed, we did not delay even 24 hours, the next day again the Prime Minister of Pakistan. Met.
The Attorney General said that the Prime Minister had given full assurance on your concerns, the federal government never asked to form a one-man commission, it was suggested to have an impartial head of the commission, the impression was given that the executive branch is conducting an inquiry. Those who spoke have not read the Inquiry Act 2017, the commission also has the power of contempt of court.
The Chief Justice of Pakistan asked who suggested the names? To which the Attorney General replied that two names were suggested by you, the names of Nasir-ul-Mulk and Tasadeq Jilani were suggested by you, the commission will have civil and criminal powers, after the cabinet meeting, the name of Tasadeq Jilani was selected. The final is over.
The Attorney General said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif asked to talk to the Law Minister again, before the announcement, TOR was shared with Tasadeq Jilani, it was agreed to sit the commission in the Federal Shariat Court, it was decided in the TOR that Any other matter may also be investigated.
Requests have also been filed for the formation of a judicial commission comprising judges of the Supreme Court on the letter of the judges.
The federal government had approved the formation of an inquiry commission to investigate the matter. Justice Retired Tasadeq Hussain Jilani had accepted the apology as the head of the commission.
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