Mohsin Jamil Baig: Govt takes U-turn on sending reference to judge
Federal government took a U-turn on sending reference against judge who had declared FIA raid at Mohsin Jamil Baig’s residence ‘illegal’.
ISLAMABAD: The federal government has taken a U-turn on sending a reference against the judge who had declared the FIA raid at journalist Mohsin Jamil Baig’s residence ‘illegal’.
After making a decision on Thursday to file a reference against the judge, the federal government took a U-turn by announcing not to file a reference against judge Zafar Iqbal’s conduct but to consider choosing the option to file an appeal against his verdict.
Sources told News360 that the decision to file a reference against the judge was changed after the meeting of Adviser to Prime Minister on Parliamentary Affairs Babar Awan, Law Minister Farogh Naseem and Attorney General of Pakistan Khalid Jawed Khan with Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Sources said that they suggested PM Imran Khan not to file a reference against the judge who annulled the FIA’s raid at Mohsin Jamil Baig’s residence on February 16. Sources added that they pointed out that the decision will push the bar associations to come forth to defend the judge, making the situation worse for the government to handle.
Mohsin Jamil Baig: Journalists start new debate as FIA takes action
Sources said that the previous decision was taken on the advice of PM’s aide Dr Shahbaz Gill and Federal Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry who had asked the premier to send a reference against the judge.
Attorney General Khalid Jawed Khan told the local media yesterday that the government would consider appealing against the verdict, however, he did not give any timeframe.
On February 16, a sessions court in Islamabad had given its verdict on the petition filed by Mohsin Jamil Baig against his detention.
The court declared the FIA raid illegal in its five-page written verdict which read that FIA had registered an FIR against Mohsin Jamil Baig at 9:00 pm, whereas, the agency has no power to conduct a raid at his residence. Moreover, FIA had also arrested Mohsin Jamil Baig’s son Hamza Baig for resorting to firing at FIA officials.
Analysts said that journalists should take a final decision first regarding Mohsin Jamil Baig of whether he is a journalist or not to go ahead with a joint strategy for a campaign for his release or to support action against him.
