Supreme Court's Justice Qazi Faez Isa Halts Proceedings of Audio Leak Investigation

 Supreme Court's Justice Qazi Faez Isa Halts Proceedings of Audio Leak Investigation

Introduction:

Justice Qazi Faez Isa of the Supreme Court has suspended further proceedings of the judicial commission established to investigate recent audio leaks involving judges, as reported by 24NewsHD TV channel. This decision came after the apex court's larger bench stayed the commission's proceedings and suspended the government's appointment notification. The commission, led by Justice Isa, had begun its inquiry into the audio leaks before the Supreme Court's intervention.

Background and Suspension of the Judicial Commission :

1. The judicial commission, comprised of Justice Qazi Isa, Chief Justice Aamer Farooq of the Islamabad High Court, and Chief Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan of the Balochistan High Court, held its second meeting at the Supreme Court building in Islamabad. However, following the Supreme Court's decision to suspend the notification for the formation of the commission, Justice Qazi Isa expressed his inability to proceed further.
2. The apex court's larger bench, led by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial, halted the commission's proceedings and suspended the government's appointment notification. Additionally, the bench prohibited the commission from conducting open hearings and making the findings public.

Questions Raised by Justice Isa:

• During the commission's hearing, Justice Isa questioned the Attorney General for Pakistan, Mansoor Awan, regarding the Supreme Court's order. He inquired whether Awan had received a notice or attended the hearing without one. Awan responded that he went to the court after receiving a verbal message, and the notice was issued after the hearing.
• Justice Isa further criticized lawyer Shoaib Shaheen, highlighting that he should not have suggested sending a reference against a judge directly to the Supreme Judicial Council. He emphasized the importance of conducting investigations before referring a case to the council, as judges would have to face lifelong consequences if the reference is directly sent.
• The judge also mentioned that lawyers should not discuss their cases in the media, addressing Shoaib Shaheen's frequent appearances on TV channels. Justice Isa expressed surprise that the Attorney General did not reject the objections raised by the Supreme Court during the previous day's hearing.

Conclusion:

Ultimately, the judicial commission, invalidated by the Supreme Court, ceased its work following Justice Isa's apology to the Attorney General. Despite their commitment to their duty under oath, Justice Isa expressed the emotional toll of investigating distressing incidents, such as the Quetta tragedy. He lamented the lack of respect shown and criticized media personalities who failed to acknowledge the stay issued by the Supreme Court. The commission proceeded to draft its decision in light of these developments.