Won’t accept person-specific proposal to fix CJP tenure, Isa told law minister

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court Tuesday clarified that an off-the record conversation of Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa with journalists was needlessly and, in most instances, inaccurately broadcast and published and unnecessarily sensationalized.

“It is regrettable that an off-the-record conversation was needlessly and, in most instances, inaccurately broadcast and published and unnecessary sensationalism created,” says a press release issued by Dr. Muhammad Mushtaq Ahmed, Secretary to the Chief Justice of Pakistan.

It states that giving unnecessary attention and importance to individuals detracts from what is important – institutions – and it be ensured that they serve the people.

It was stated that at the conclusion of proceedings held the other day on the occasion of Judicial Year of the Supreme Court, the participants were invited for tea during which some journalists surrounded the chief justice, spoke to him and asked him questions.

The secretary said during the conversation, the chief justice made it clear that he was talking to them off the record, but since the conversation had been misinterpreted and widely disseminated, it was necessary to accurately reproduce what transpired.

He further said that “the chief justice was asked about the extension of his tenure, to which he replied that several months earlier the law minister had come to him in his chamber and stated that the government was considering fixing the tenure of chief justice of Pakistan for three years.

“The Chief Justice informed the journalists that he told the law minister that if the proposal was individual-specific and, if enacted, it would not be something he would accept,” says the press release adding that the senior puisne judge and the attorney-general were present.

It further stated that “the law minister also made a mention of the parliamentary committee’s role which, he said, had been diminished. Therefore, it was being considered to incorporate it, and the Judicial Commission, into one body to which the chief justice replied that it was parliament’s prerogative, however, added that he hoped that those in opposition to the government would not be excluded.

“The law minister has since not met the chief justice privately nor has had any discussion with the chief justice regarding any such matter,” the secretary clarified.

He further said that there was a follow-up question attributed to something said by Rana Sanaullah with reference to this subject and the chief justice replied that he had not met the said gentleman and did not know what he had said; therefore, if there were any questions, these should be addressed to him directly.

The secretary to the CJP further said questions were also put to the chief justice about the proposal to increase the number of judges since the number of cases has increased, to which the chief justice responded that it was best if first the vacant positions were filled in.