Govt, Imran Khan on same page regarding Justice Qazi Faez Isa reference

The federal cabinet has decided that the reference filed against Justice Qazi Faez Isa Isa will be withdrawn.

According to the details, an important meeting of the federal cabinet was held under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The meeting approved the withdrawal of the review petition filed against Justice Qazi Faez Isa, and also approved action against those who had filed and drafted the reference.

Talking to the media after the meeting, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said that the curatorial review filed against Justice Isa was unprecedented in the history of the judiciary which was filed to keep him under pressure.

Sanaullah said that the cabinet was told that approval was not taken from the cabinet to file a reference against Justice Isa, but a federal minister and Shahzad Akbar deliberately created a situation.

In a meeting chaired by PM Sharif, the federal Cabinet established a sub-committee of the Cabinet to take action against those who made a false reference against the Supreme Court (SC) judge.

It should be noted that the federal cabinet hinted at action against the characters who filed the reference against Justice Isa.

It should be noted that the then federal law minister was Barrister Farogh Naseem from Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P) and the reference was sent with the approval of President Dr Arif Alvi.

It is important to mention that two days ago while talking to senior journalists, President Alvi had admitted that the reference he received against Qazi Faiz Isa was forwarded by me considering it my constitutional responsibility.

A few days ago former prime minister Imran Khan had also admitted that it was his mistake to file a reference against Justice Isa. He said that he did not want to send that reference but I was told to file it.

In a meeting with the Insaf Lawyers Forum (ILF), PTI Chairman Imran Khan admitted that filing a presidential reference against the SC judge was a “mistake”.

According to reports, Attorney General of Pakistan Khalid Jawed Khan of the previous government led by PTI had explained to Imran Khan that Justice Isa was an honest and trustworthy judge.

Analysts said that the federal government has sent a message to some forces that displeased them that they are now withdrawing the reference against Justice Isa and they will take action against those who are responsible.

Analysts further said that it will mean that the Shehbaz Sharif government is going to take action against the then Law Minister Barrister Farogh Naseem, while Farogh Naseem himself is currently a member of his ally party, MQM-P. How will they act against a member of their coalition party?

They added that there is one person against whom action can be taken and that is the president but the president enjoys immunity.