Govt seeks recusal of CJP, 2 other judges
The federal government on Tuesday raised an objection to three members of the five-member bench hearing a set of petition challenging the constitution of a judicial commission formed to investigate the veracity of recent audio leaks.
The government had formed the commission on May 20 under Section 3 of the Pakistan Commission of Inquiry Act 2017. Led by senior puisne judge Justice Qazi Faez Isa, the commission also comprised Balochistan High Court Chief Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Aamer Farooq.
But earlier this week, the top court, while hearing a set of four petitions against the appointment of the commission, restrained the panel from going ahead with its task.
The reserved verdict was issued by a five-member bench comprising Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial, Justice Ijazul Ahsan, Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi and Justice Shahid Waheed.
“I am sorry to say that efforts have been made regrettably, may be unknowingly, to draw a wedge between the judges of the court,” CJP Bandial said during the hearing.
