The Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) has issued a strong condemnation of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) demand for Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa to recuse himself from cases related to the party, as reported by Pakistan Talk Show.
In an official statement, the PBC described PTI’s demand as “unfortunate and unacceptable,” asserting that it was an attempt to exert undue pressure on the CJP and to undermine the independence of the judiciary. The council emphasized that CJP Qazi Faez Isa is a highly respected and impartial judge, whose integrity is beyond question.
They warned that any attempts to malign him or the judiciary would be firmly rejected.
PTI’s Demand and Its Context
Earlier, the PTI had demanded that CJP Qazi Faez Isa recuse himself from cases involving the party and its founder, Imran Khan. This demand arose from concerns over perceived bias and impartiality, according to a statement issued by the PTI core committee. They argued that the CJP’s involvement in their cases has a “negative impact” on ensuring a fair trial.
The PTI’s demand came as the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear a case involving the Sunni Ittehad Council’s (SIC) reserved seats on June 3, with CJP Isa heading the bench. Additionally, Imran Khan appeared before a Supreme Court bench led by CJP Isa in a case pertaining to amendments to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Ordinance 1999.
PBC’s Stance
The PBC’s response highlights its stance against any actions that could be perceived as attempts to intimidate or influence the judiciary. By defending the integrity and impartiality of CJP Qazi Faez Isa, the PBC aims to protect the judicial process from political interference.