Justice Hassan Azhar Rizvi has issued a strong warning during a key hearing, stressing that the Supreme Court must not become a political battleground. He delivered these remarks while advising all parties to study the 27th Constitutional Amendment, which plays a central role in the case. The title Justice Hassan Azhar Rizvi Warns Against Turning Court Into Political Arena reflects the gravity of the situation and the rising public interest in judicial independence and political influence.
Justice Rizvi delivered the warning during the hearing of a petition filed by Muzammil Rafique, a dismissed employee of a major utility corporation. The court granted Rafique extra time to prepare his case. Justice Rizvi reminded him that he had already withdrawn his intra-court appeal from the Lahore High Court and urged him to build a stronger legal argument before returning.
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Justice Rizvi advised the petitioner to study the relevant constitutional changes, consult a lawyer, and return fully prepared. He emphasised that the focus should not be on the number of employees removed but on the legal issues at stake. He also criticised the corporation’s management, pointing to major financial losses and allegations of corruption. These details have sparked public interest, boosting searches related to utility stores case, corruption in state institutions, and judicial accountability in Pakistan.
The court also questioned the federal government’s role in running the utility stores. Justice Rizvi noted that the public, not the employees, had been the main beneficiaries of the system. With several unanswered questions remaining, the court adjourned the hearing indefinitely, making this case a trending topic in Pakistan’s legal and political landscape.