ISLAMABAD: Acting Chief Justice Omar Ata Bandiyal on Friday spent a busy day with a more than two-hour-long meeting with Justice Qazi Faiz Isa before leaving for the United States for treatment of his ailing wife, and for Pakistan. Had a meeting with the Attorney General. (AGP) Khalid Javed Khan.
The five-judge bench of the Supreme Court held the meetings a day after a two-judge bench written by Justice Isa recalled the August 20 order directing several government officials to file complaints of harassment leveled by journalists through an application. was called to answer. .
According to sources, during the meeting with the AGP, the perception of the growing rift in the judiciary was also discussed and on improving the image of the judiciary and citizens’ trust in the judiciary.
On Friday, the ACJ also fixed the journalist harassment case for Monday (August 30) to examine the complaints of the applicants and discuss the right of the applicants for any relief on the touchstone of Article 184(3) of the Constitution. ordered.
The August 26 unanimously abbreviated order by a five-judge bench also directed to place the journalist harassment case in the office of the Chief Justice for further orders. After this the case file was presented before the office and then a three-judge bench was constituted to hear the matter on Monday.
The matter has been decided before a bench of Justice Ejaz-ul-Ahsan, Justice Muneeb Akhtar and Justice Qazi Mohammad Amin Ahmed. The matter was decided by the ACJ with an observation that journalists had provided valuable services to the public in keeping up with events and informed opinion.
“His work is protected by Article 18, Article 19A, Article 19 of the Constitution,” the ACJ said. (3) of the Constitution.
A source close to the development told dawn That the meeting between the ACJ and Justice Isa took place in the former chambers, during which the ACJ also inquired about the health of his wife Sarina Isa and prayed for her speedy recovery.
The Supreme Court office also issued a message on behalf of Justice Isa stating that his wife had been advised to undergo throat surgery to remove her enlarged thyroid, which had shown substantial nodule growth.
The message also clarified that Justice Isa and his wife would bear his travel and medical expenses.
A senior counsel said the meeting between the ACJ and Justice Isa, during which a frank discussion took place, was a good omen and gesture which would help dispel the perception about the growing gulf between the judges of the Supreme Court.
Abdul Latif Afridi, president of the Supreme Court Bar Association, while arguing before a five-judge bench of the Supreme Court hearing the controversy over the invocation of suo motu powers, had pointed to the notion that the apex court was divided. He had emphasized that the Supreme Court should not function in a divided manner but should remain united to protect and protect the Constitution.
Legal observers expect more emphasis on pending cases of ordinary litigants when the Supreme Court begins the new judicial year from September 13. Already the caseload in the Supreme Court has a massive backlog of over 52,000 cases.
Earlier, the Press Association of the Supreme Court, in its application before the Supreme Court, called for initiating appropriate action to ensure the fundamental rights of journalists and to hold those responsible for harassing journalists and squeezing the freedom of the press. requested the court. .
The application also highlighted that Pakistan is currently ranked 145th in the Reporters Without Borders 2021 global press freedom report.
Similarly, a report released by Freedom Network lamenting the dramatic increase in an environment of intimidation and harassment by the media and its practitioners, which was adversely affecting freedom of expression, was highlighted on the application.
Published in Dawn, August 28, 2021