Supreme Courts senior puisne Justice Mansoor Ali Shah addressing an event in Islamabad on December 7, 2024. — Geo News/ YouTube

Not afraid of reference, says Justice Shah

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Supreme Court’s senior puisne Justice Mansoor Ali Shah addressing an event in Islamabad on December 7, 2024. — Geo News/ YouTube

ISLAMABAD: Supreme Court (SC) Justice Mansoor Ali Shah on Friday stated that he is not scared of any reference, adding that there is no cause of concern for him, if he has not done anything wrong.

In an informal conversation with reporters following oath-taking ceremony for newly appointed Supreme Court judges, Justice Mansoor replied to a query regarding the reference that was purportedly brought against him.

He responded: “We will see when the reference comes. If I have done nothing wrong, why should I fear? Allah is the ultimate authority.”

Rana Sanaullah, the prime minister’s adviser on political and public affairs, earlier this week hinted at filing a reference against two senior apex court judges who, according to him, were committing “misconduct” by “writing letters on every issue containing critical remarks” and “leaking it to the media”.

However, the premier’s adviser clarified his statement days later, saying that his remarks of filing a reference against the judges were neither an announcement nor a threat.

Federal Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar also further elucidated that the premier’s aide never talked about filing a reference against the judges except for presenting his point of view on “misconduct” by some of the judges amid growing tensions over the nomination and transfer of senior jurists.

Meanwhile, the senior puisne judge also mentioned that he regularly meets with fellow judges and even shares tea with them. Smiling, he added: “Right now, I just came to have tea after the oath-taking ceremony.”

In a cryptic remark, he added: “If an elephant is in the room and no one sees it, what can be said [of it]?”

Justice Mansoor dismissed any notion of personal grudges or conflicts, saying: “I have no personal enmity or disagreements with anyone.”

To another query regarding if the judges did not perform their duties, he said everything was available online, pointing to case disposal rates.

“Look at the case clearance rate. Everything is available on the Supreme Court’s website,” he said. He also noted that records show how many judgments by each judge have been published in legal books.

Irfan Siddiqui unaware of reference against judges

On the other hand, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senator Irfan Siddiqui has said that he is unaware of any government plans to file a reference against two judges.

Speaking on Geo News programme “Geo Pakistan”, Siddiqui mentioned that everyone knows which two judges are being discussed in this context.

However, he emphasised that he has no knowledge of whether the government is considering such a move.

Siddiqui further noted that while politicians often stage walkouts and boycotts, he has never seen judges doing so.

The Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) earlier this week approved the appointment of six new judges to the apex court amid a boycott by PTI lawmakers and two senior SC judges. The chief justices of all high courts, except the Lahore High Court (LHC) were among the six judges nominated.

Earlier, three judges — from Sindh, Balochistan, and Lahore — were transferred to the IHC, drawing severe criticism from the legal fraternity, including the IHC judges.

The five justices, contesting the seniority criteria, were of the view that the judges transferred from other high courts should take oath anew to reset their seniority.

Nevertheless, their representation was rejected by then-IHC chief justice Aamer Farooq, saying the new oath was not required as their seniority was calculated from the time they took oath in their respective high court and not from the date of their transfer.

PML-N Senator Siddiqui also disclosed that he was present at the Prime Minister’s House luncheon, where the matter of PTI founder Imran Khan allegedly sending letters to Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir was raised.

According to Siddiqui, the army chief responded that he had not received any such letters.

Talking informally to the media and apparently referring to the incarcerated PTI founding chairman’s ‘open letters’, the army chief has denied receiving any letter from the jailed former premier. The army chief said he would not “read it [letter] even if I receive it”.

The COAS maintained that he would forward any such communication to the prime minister if he received it.


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