ISLAMABAD: Dismissing rumours of division within top judiciary, Justice Qazi Faez Isa, a senior puisne judge of the Supreme Court, clarified on Friday that it was factually incorrect to suggest that he had created a separate group within the top court.
Justice Isa made these remarks in response to a misleading video clip from the oath-taking ceremony of the Chief Justice of the Federal Shariat Court, held the previous day. The video circulating on social media gave the impression that Justice Isa did not greet Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial during the event.
In a statement, Justice Isa explained, “Immediately after the conclusion of the ceremony, I went first to greet and congratulate his wife, where I also met Justice Umar Ata Bandial and greeted him too.” He further clarified that he then proceeded to greet Justice Rahman and later engaged in a conversation with Dr. Syed Muhammad Anwer, a former Aalim judge of the FSC, during which Justice Bandial came to greet him as well.
Justice Isa pointed out that someone recorded that moment and erroneously added that he had not greeted Justice Bandial, even though he had already done so a few minutes earlier. He also mentioned that Justice Rahman’s wife wanted to introduce him to some of her family members, which is why he turned away momentarily.
The senior puisne judge expressed his concern about the spread of factually incorrect stories in the media and emphasized the harm and unnecessary misgivings they cause. He referred to the pain his family has endured as a result of false stories in the past. Quoting a verse from the Holy Quran, he urged people to carefully ascertain the truthfulness of information before spreading it to avoid causing harm through ignorance.
Justice Isa reaffirmed his commitment to his oath of office, which is to defend and uphold the Constitution of Pakistan, and stated that he cannot agree with anything less. He warned against manipulating facts to create controversial narratives, as it damages the institution.
In conclusion, Justice Isa called for unity and collaboration to build a strong judicial system that prioritizes the administration of expedited justice, urging everyone to stay focused on this important goal.
