On the post two day dismissal of a case by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Gulzar Ahmad pertaining to allegation that distributed development funds among law-makers, Justice Faez Isa expressed to the apex court registrar his ‘shock’ on the release to the media before it was sent to him in a written letter on Saturday.
The copy of a letter by Justice Isa to the Supreme Court registrar, dated February 12, which was issued today, in which the judge says that as per "settled practice" a judgement, once written by the judge heading the bench, is sent to the next senior-most judge.
"[...] Honourable Mr Justice Ijazul Ahsan apparently received it, but I never did, and the world knows of it before I've seen it," the letter states, which was also sent to the chief justice and the jury of the apex court. Moreover, Justice Ahsan follows Justice Isa in seniority.
The five paged written order by CJP highlighted that since the petition is filed in personal capacity of the judge against PM Imran Khan so it "would not be proper" for Justice Isa, to hear cases against the prime minister.
Justice Isa, in his letter to the registrar, raised four questions and demanded the case file so that he could read it. His four concerns included:
- Why was the order/judgement not sent to me?
- Why was the settled practice of sending it (the judgement) to the next senior judge was not followed?
- Why was it released to the media before I read it (let alone had the opportunity to sign it in agreement/disagreement)?
- Who ordered its release to the media?