Terming his recent “off the record” conversation with journalists misinterpreted, Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa has clarified that he would not accept any “individual specific” proposal on fixing the tenure of the country’s top judge.
It was reported a day ago that CJP Isa — who is set to retire in October this year — had categorically rejected accepting an extension in his tenure, however, he suggested the government to go ahead with extending the tenure of other jurists.
In a statement, CJP’s Secretary Muhammad Mushtaq Ahmad stated that the top judge was surrounded by journalists who spoke to him and asked him questions following the commencement of the proceedings of the event to mark judicial year on Monday.
“The Chief Justice made it clear that he was talking to them off the record, but since the conversation has been misinterpreted and widely disseminated it is necessary to accurately reproduce what transpired,” the statement added.
The event was also addressed by the attorney general, the vice chairman of the Pakistan Bar Council and the president of the Supreme Court Bar Association, he added.
The CJP secretary confirmed that Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar had met Justice Isa in his chamber several months ago and had stated that the federal government was considering making the “position of the Chief Justice of Pakistan a fixed tenure post for three years”.
The chief justice informed the journalists that he told the law minister, that “if the proposal was individual specific, and if enacted, it would not be something he would accept”.
“The Senior Puisne Judge [Justice Mansoor Ali Shah] and the Attorney-General [Mansoor Usman Awan] were present at this meeting,” the statement read.
Mention was also made by the law minister of the parliamentary committee’s role which he said had been diminished, therefore, it was being considered to incorporate it, and the Judicial Commission, into one body, it added.
To which, CJP Isa replied that it was parliament’s prerogative, however, he added that he hoped that those in opposition to the government would not be excluded.
“The law minister has since not met the chief justice privately nor has had any discussion with him regarding any such matter,” it further clarified.
The statement also mentioned a follow up question attributed to Adviser to Prime Minister on Political and Public Affairs Rana Sanaullah regarding extension in the judges’ tenure.
