In a development that raised eyebrows of the legal fraternity on Monday, Supreme Court's Justice Qazi Faez Isa challenged the authority of the registrar of the apex court who, he said, had no right to annul a judicial order.
In a letter written to the registrar of the Supreme Court, Justice Isa said the chief justice of Pakistan also could not issue any administrative order against a judicial order, and that the registrar's circular of March 31 was a violation of the judgement of the three-member bench of the Supreme Court.
Justice Isa, who is known for his independent and outspoken views, further wrote that the registrar should be aware of his constitutional responsibility as a senior officer, and that if he knew that the case in question was heard under suo motu No 4/2022 Article 184/3, he should not have issued the circular.
He also advised Registrar Ishrat Ali to leave the charge of the post.
The judge directed the registrar to immediately withdraw the circular and said his behaviour showed that the latter was not fit to hold the office. He emphasised that under Article 175/3, judiciary and administration were completely separate, and the constitution was enforced on the registrar just like any other citizen of the country.