Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial and senior puisne judge Justice Qazi Faez Isa had a meeting on Tuesday that sources said lasted for almost 40 minutes.
The meeting took place in the CJP’s chamber before iftar, they said and described that it was held in a “pleasant environment”.
Justice Qazi Faez Isa has issued a written clarification stating that he was assured that there would be no political speeches and was not even scheduled to speak at the constitution’s silver jubilee convention on Monday.
In a clarification issued through the Supreme Court’s public relations officer on Tuesday, Justice Isa said that all judges of the top court had been invited to the even which was held in the assembly’s hall on April 10.
Justice Isa wrote that he had sought clarifications multiple times that the constitution would be the only topic before agreeing to attend the event.
“Having cleared this point, first by my staff from the Deputy Director of the National Assembly and then by me directly with the speaker, I accepted the invitation as I wanted to show solidarity with the constitution.” the statement read.
Justice Isa also expressed surprise that his presence and place where he chose to sit had become the subject of criticism, adding that he would have preffered to sit in the gallery or somewhere to the side.
“But respect was shown to a member of the judiciary by seating me at the centre, I did not choose to sit there.”
He also said that he had initially declined when asked to make a speech, but after some political speeches wer made, he had to speak to clear up any ‘misconceptions’ that might arise.
The judge then also explained why the golden jubilee of the passing of the constitution was an important part of Pakisan’s political history that ought to be commemorated adding that elected representatives were deserving of all the respect and it was they who had passed the land’s supreme document.
“The significance of the constitution must be impressed upon all, and this should be done continuosly,” he wrote.
“Citizens are best served if seeds of discord are not planted,” he wrote.
The statement comes after images of the him sitting among senior government leaders were shown across TV and social media nad subjected to criticism.
A special convention was organised at the National Assembly hall on Monday to mark 50 years of the passing of the 1973 constitution. Other thatn resolutions for preservation and recongnition of places related to the constitution, resolutions were also passed asking for the constitution to be taught in schools.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and PPP leaders Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and Asif Ali Zardari also made speeches at the event. While both echoed the need for dialogue to solve the current crises, the speeches expectedly delved into political sparring against Imran Khan.
Bilawal in particular spoke of the recent divisions in the Supreme Court and added that the court was trying to tell the country that ‘two and two make three’. He also said that many hidden hands were still helping Imran Khan, presumably a reference to the judiciary.
At this Justice Isa had stood up and said that the courts stood behind the constitution and had spoken about the importance of understanding and celbrating it. But he also had to clarify twice that he had nothing to do with the political speeches at the event.
The clarification comes a few hours after a compalint was filed against Justice Isa in the supreme judicial council for ‘misconduct’ by going to event where political speeches were made.
Filed by Gujranwala bar’s president, the complaint calls for Justice Isa’s removal sitting with ‘corrupt’ politicians was not befitting that of a future chief justice of the country’s biggest court.
