ISLAMABAD: Federal Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has openly criticized Justice Mansoor Ali Shah for expressing concerns about the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP). The minister stated that such a “selective sense of justice” does not suit the senior puisne judge of the Supreme Court.
Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, in a letter to Chief Justice Yahya Afridi on Thursday, raised significant concerns. He urged the Chief Justice to convene a full court and instructed the registrar to schedule hearings for pending petitions against the 26th Constitutional Amendment.
Justice Mansoor explained that the current commission had been restructured under this amendment. However, he emphasized that the amendment’s constitutional validity was under scrutiny. Numerous petitions from various segments of society challenging the amendment are still pending in the Supreme Court.
The judge warned of serious consequences if the amendment is invalidated. He stated that such a verdict would nullify all actions and decisions of the newly formed commission, especially nominations for additional judges in high courts.
Justice Mansoor added that appointing judges through a commission whose legitimacy is questioned would damage public trust in Pakistan’s judiciary. He believed this would weaken the moral authority of these appointments and erode the judiciary’s credibility.
In response to the letter, Khawaja Asif expressed his disappointment. He remarked, “Justice Shah is concerned that ignoring his letter could harm public confidence in the judiciary.” The minister acknowledged Justice Mansoor’s long association with the judiciary, suggesting he had witnessed many internal developments firsthand.
Khawaja Asif went on to name former judges, including Saqib Nisar, Khosa, Ijaz-ul-Ahsan, and Mazahar Naqvi. He accused them of tarnishing the judiciary’s reputation and questioned why Justice Mansoor did not raise similar concerns earlier.
Addressing Justice Mansoor directly, Asif asked, “Why were these issues of public trust not raised before, Shah sahib? Is this concern based on personal reasons?”
Asif concluded by highlighting the importance of Justice Mansoor’s position. “Shah sahib, your office is highly respected, and so are you. But such selective justice does not match your esteemed stature,” he stated firmly.
Justice Mansoor’s letter and Khawaja Asif’s remarks have sparked intense debate about the judiciary and public trust in Pakistan.
