The Supreme Court on Friday issued show-cause notices to lawmakers Faisal Vawda and Mustafa Kamal, seeking their responses regarding recent rhetoric against the judiciary.
This development arose as a three-member bench, led by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa and including Justice Irfan Saadat Khan and Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan, reviewed a suo motu notice taken the previous day against independent Senator Vawda.
On Wednesday, Vawda and PML-N’s Talal Chaudhry held separate press conferences questioning the Islamabad High Court (IHC) judges’ claims of interference by intelligence agencies in judicial matters. They insisted that without evidence, no one should accuse the institutions.
The following day, MNAs Mustafa Kamal of Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) and Awn Chaudhry of Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party (IPP) also criticized the judiciary, calling for ethical standards for judges. Kamal questioned the dual citizenship of judges, while Awn warned of potential anarchy if the judiciary’s shortcomings were not addressed.
This controversy follows a letter from six IHC judges to the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC), reporting attempts to pressure judges through abductions and surveillance of their relatives. Justice Babar Sattar also reported breaches of his family’s personal data while hearing an audio leaks case.
Senator Vawda stressed that targeting institutions must cease, questioning why Justice Sattar only raised concerns a year after the alleged interference. Vawda sought details on Justice Sattar’s US green card but was denied by the IHC registrar, who stated that residency or citizenship is not recorded for judicial appointments.
In response to the allegations and public statements, Chief Justice Isa highlighted the need to maintain respect for institutions. He emphasized that while the judiciary acknowledges its faults, criticism should be constructive. He asserted that institutions belong to the public and that defaming them does not serve the country.
The court has requested video recordings and transcripts of the press conferences from the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra). The next hearing is scheduled for June 5, where Vawda and Kamal are expected to provide clarifications.
