Islamabad: Brushing aside rumours about division within ranks of top judiciary, Supreme Court senior puisne judge Justice Qazi Faez Isa clarified that it was “Factually incorrect” that he had internally created separate group within top court.

Justice Isa made remarks while clarifying false impression cast by video clip from oath taking ceremony of Chief Justice of Federal Shariat Court held a day earlier.

Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial administered oath to Justice Iqbal Hameedur Rahman as Chief justice of Shariat Court. Footage circulating on social media platforms cast an impression that senior puisne judge did not greet CJP during event. In statement, Justice Isa said, “Immediately after conclusion of ceremony I went first to greet and I congratulate his wife where I met Justice Umar Ata Bandial and greeted him too.” He said that then he proceeded to greet Justice Rahman and later he went to talk to Dr Syed Muhammad Anwer, former Aalim judge of FSC, when Justice Bandial came to greet him too. “Someone recorded this moment and incorrectly added that I had not greeted Justice Bandial, even though just few minutes earlier I had done so,” he added.Justice Isa added, “Justice Rahman’s wife wanted to introduce me to some of her family members, which was reason I turned.”

Senior puisne judge said that erroneous interpretations appeared in media and requested “Factually incorrect stories should not be propagated, as they cause unnecessary and avoidable misgivings and harm”. “My family and I can attest to pain of being brunt of sponsored false stories in recent past,” he added.

“Ascertain its truthfulness carefully (before you spread it) lest you harm people through your own ignorance’ (Al-Qur’an, 49:6),” he quoted verse from Holy Quran.

Top court judge said, “I stand by my oath of office, to defend and uphold Constitution of Pakistan and cannot concur with anything less. Garnishing facts to create controversial narrative is damaging to institution.” “Let us not be detracted, let us work together to build strong judicial system which focuses on administration of expeditious justice,” he concluded.

Published in The Daily National Courier, June, 03 2023

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