Remove SC judge for ‘ridiculing’ armed forces: Pak Bar council

Lahore, April 22

Pakistan’s Punjab Bar Council has demanded the sacking of a Supreme Court judge for “ridiculing” the armed forces and casting “serious aspersions” on the intelligence agencies, especially the ISI, saying his remarks in a judgment strengthened India’s narrative.

Justice Qazi Faez Isa in his February 6 judgment on the Faizabad (Islamabad) sit-in by the radical Islamists said the Constitution emphatically prohibits members of the armed forces from engaging in any kind of political activity, which includes supporting a political party, faction or individual.

“The Government of Pakistan through the Ministry of Defence and the respective Chiefs of the Army, the Navy and the Air Force are directed to initiate action against the personnel under their command who are found to have violated their oath. There is no accountability of the intelligence agencies,” the Bench comprising Justice Qazi Isa and Justice Mushir Alam ruled in February.

The Punjab Bar Council (PBC) said Justice Isa ridiculed the armed forces.

“Justice Isa without any evidence, factual basis or determination, ridiculed the armed forces and cast serious aspersions on the intelligence agencies, strengthening the narrative of India,” the PBC said in a resolution against the judge “Therefore, we demand that appropriate proceedings against Justice Isa may be initiated under Article 209 (5) of the Constitution for his removal as judge of the Supreme Court,” it said. — PTI