Audio leaks commission
With leaks upon leaks upon leaks, some involving the highest judiciary of the land itself, last week the federal government had formed a three-member judicial commission led by Justice Qazi Faez Isa to probe the authenticity of the recent audio leaks and the impact on the independence of the judiciary. But Supreme Court stayed the proceedings of this high-powered judicial commission. It also suspended the federal government’s notification on the commission’s constitution.
However, Justice Qazi Faez Isa has raised questions over the SC order stopping the judicial panel from working of the commission. The government formed the commission after there was pressure from the law bars and civil society that the top judiciary should not be maligned through these alleged ‘leaks’.
And so it was decided that only an investigation by a judicial commission could ascertain the veracity of these audio leaks and determine whether there was any truth to them or not.
None of this, however, can or should take away from the fact that recording people’s phones, or tapping their phones, or in any other way infringing upon an individual’s right to privacy is illegal, immoral and cannot ever be condoned. The epidemic of leaks that we are confronted with at the moment is essentially a real insight into the state of our state. Legal experts have pointed out that it is essential that this perception that the judiciary is somehow not interested in an investigation into audio leaks related to peer judges should be dispelled.
It was reiterated time and again that in a country with such little faith in the ’system’ it is important for the judiciary to be transparent and accountable if and when such leaks materialize. The judiciary’s job is to dispense justice. If there is any perception that a judge has allegedly taken anything from an accused or shows leniency to the accused due to any favour, there should be proper investigation into the matter.
This is no ordinary allegation. Instead of creating further doubts and confusion, the judiciary should resolve this issue and initiate investigation into these alleged audio leaks. The government or the political parties will then have no excuse to go around pointing fingers at or sloganeering against one senior judge or the other. For the sanctity, dignity and impartiality of judiciary, judges should keep their life unblemished in all respects.
—The writer is contributing columnist based in Lahore.
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