A day after the Supreme Court’s top two judges appeared to have awkwardly avoided interacting in public, a video showed both planting a tree together.
Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial and Senior Puisne Judge Qazi Faez Isa had avoided talking after the oath-taking ceremony for the chief justice of the Federal Shariat Court on Thursday.
However, Friday’s video showed both inside the court’s building planting a tree together, seemingly in good spirits.
“This one will blossom,” Justice Bandial remarked to journalists as he planted a tree with Justice Isa.
“Only this one will blossom,” a journalist replied from behind the camera, leading to laughter in the gathering.
Justice Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Athar Minallah were also present at the occasion.
The court has been marred by reports of divisions among senior judges particularly throughout the election delay case. The government has also pushed forward a bill trying to limit the chief justice’s discretionary powers, leading to more tension inside the court.
However, Friday’s visuals could be a sign of things healing.
