Imran Khan requests removal of CJP Qazi Faez Isa from any case benches handling matters related to him, his family, and his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). This request is driven by concerns that CJP Qazi Faez Isa’s involvement might affect the fairness of the proceedings. Imran Khan’s formal appeal underscores the tensions between the former Prime Minister and the judiciary, aiming to address potential biases in ongoing and future cases.
Imran Khan’s application claims that Justice Isa’s involvement in cases involvingImran Khan, his family, PTI, and its Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) members might compromise the public’s trust in judicial impartiality.
The committee, comprising Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Munib Akhtar alongside CJPQazi Faez Isa, is responsible for forming benches and setting case schedules under the Supreme Court Practice and Procedure Act 2023. Imran Khan’s application argues that the presence of CJP Isa on relevant benches could undermine judicial confidence.
Imran Khan accuses CJPQazi Faez Isa of bias on two fronts. Firstly, he cites a 2019 presidential reference for JusticeQazi Faez Isa’s removal, which Isa and his wife perceived as a personal attack. Secondly, Khan refers to a previous ruling by a five-judge bench led by then-CJP Gulzar Ahmed, which advised against Justice Isa handling cases involvingImran Khan’s government.
The PTI’s stance on JusticeQazi Faez Isa has been inconsistent. PTI counsel Niazullah Niazi had previously raised objections to Qazi Faez Isa’s involvement in an Election Commission of Pakistan case, while another PTI counsel, Salman Akram Raja, did not supportNiazullah Niazi’s objections. CJPQazi Faez Isa has expressed frustration with these objections, threatening disciplinary action againstNiazullah Niazi.
This latest development highlights ongoing tensions between PTI and CJPQazi Faez Isa, a relationship that has been strained since the 2019 removal reference. The PTI’s fluctuating stance on JusticeQazi Faez Isa underscores the complex dynamics at play in Pakistan’s judiciary.
