Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) Friday assembled to deliberate upon references against Supreme Court judge Justice Qazi Faez Isa and Sindh High Court judge Justice K K Agha for allegedly not declaring properties abroad and failing to mention them in their wealth statements.
The SJC meeting, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Asif Saeed Khan Khosa comprising two senior judges of apex court, Justice Gulzar Ahmed and Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed, two senior Chief Justices of High Courts - Waqar Ahmad Seth, CJ Peshawar High Court and Ahmad Ali Sheikh, CJ Sindh High Court - was held in-camera at the Supreme Court building at 02:00 pm. and continued till 03:30 pm.
Attorney General for Pakistan Anwar Mansoor defended the references before the SJC. After the meeting when he came out of the SJC meeting-room journalists approached him and tried their level best to get information about the fate of references. However, the AGP didn't utter a single word and went straight to his office. He seemed upset.
President Arif Alvi on May 27, 2019 sent references to SJC, under Article 209 of the Constitution, against Justice Qazi Faez Isa and Justice K K Agha. On June 13 a Lahore-based lawyer Waheed Shahzad Butt submitted an application for a new reference against Justice Qazi Faez Isa in the Supreme Judicial Council.
The representatives of the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC), Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) provincial bar councils and associations gathered at the apex court since 09:00 am. and remained there until 7:00 pm. Security was very tight at the Supreme Court premises as heavy contingent of and special branch were deployed in and outside the SC precinct.
The lawyers left the top court when they were told that members Supreme Judicial Council, SC Registrar and Attorney General have left for their residences. SCBA President Amanullah Kanrani said they gathered at the Supreme Court not to protect Justice Qazi Faez, but their struggle is for the dignity and prestige of the institution (SC) and rule of law and Constitution. "We will continue our struggle for the independence of judiciary," he added. Vice-Chairman Amjad regretted that the media did not give proper coverage to their protest. The PBC and SCBA expressed serious concerns over the references.