The Supreme Court of Pakistan has clarified that off-the-record comments made by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa during a conversation with journalists were “needlessly and inaccurately” reported, causing unnecessary sensationalism.
Chief Justice Isa clarified that he had only refused to accept an extension through person-specific legislation. However, he did not state that he would retire on October 24 at all costs.
In a statement issued by the court on Tuesday, it was explained that the conversation took place after the commencement of the new judicial year when some journalists asked the Chief Justice about a potential extension of his tenure.
Justice Isa replied that several months earlier, the law minister had informed him that the government was considering making the Chief Justice’s term a fixed three-year post.
“The chief justice informed the journalists that he told the law minister, that if the proposal was individual specific, and if enacted, it would not be something he would accept,” the statement said.
The court further added that during the meeting, which was also attended by the Attorney General for Pakistan and the Senior Puisne Judge, the law minister had suggested incorporating the Parliamentary Committee into the Judicial Commission for judges’ appointments. To this, Justice Isa responded, “It was Parliament’s prerogative; however, I hoped that those in opposition to the government would not be excluded.”
Addressing a follow-up question regarding a statement by Rana Sanaullah, the chief justice clarified, “I had not met the said gentleman and do not know what he had said, therefore, if there are any questions they should be addressed to him directly.”
The Supreme Court expressed regret over the misreporting of this off-the-record conversation, stating, “It is regrettable that an off-the-record conversation was needlessly and in most instances inaccurately broadcast and published.”
The court emphasised that giving undue importance to individual remarks detracts from the focus on institutional matters, which “serve the people.”
On the topic of increasing the number of judges, Justice Isa said the focus should first be on filling the existing vacant positions.
The court expressed disappointment over the misreporting of the off-the-record conversation, stressing that unnecessary sensationalism detracts from the importance of institutions and their role in serving the people.
