Staff Reporter
Islamabad
The Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered the Federal Investigation Agency to complete its probe in the video leaks controversy involving accountability court judge Mohammad Arshad Malik within three weeks, saying it wants to ascertain the truth of all allegations against the judge before proceeding in the matter.
The directions came as a three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice Asif Saeed Khosa and comprising Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed and Justice Umar Ata Bandial, resumed the hearing of three identical petitions on the video scandal involving judge Malik, all seeking a directive from the apex court for the constitution of an inquiry committee or a judicial commission. The petitions have been filed by Ishtiaq Ahmed Mirza, Sohail Akhtar and Tariq Asad.
Attorney General Anwar Mansoor, who was assisting the top court in deciding the appropriate course of action, opposed the petitions and the formation of a judicial commission to probe the matter, saying there was no need for its constitution because a separate forum exists to deal with such matters.
But the chief justice made it clear that the SC would examine all evidence to prevent any loss being incurred by anyone. He said the court was considering different options — the last of which would be setting up a judicial commission — but would take a decision after perusing the inquiry report.
“We will not take a leap in the dark,” Justice Khosa said, observing that some people might want the apex court to rush through the matter. The chief justice observed that the judicial commission, if constituted, can only give its opinion on the matter and not pass any judgement.
“Only the high court can give relief to Nawaz Sharif,” he said, adding that the high court can order a re-trial of the Al-Azizia reference and even decide the matter itself after examining the evidence.
He regretted the fact that despite the serious allegations exchanged between different sides in the matter, no party had approached the relevant high court with an application. The chief justice wondered whether the SC should interfere in the matter at all.
