LAHORE: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has expressed its concern at the timing of, and apparent intention behind, the presidential reference submitted with the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) against Honourable Justice Qazi Faez Isa under Article 209 of the Constitution.

A statement issued by commission chairman Dr Mehdi Hasan here on Tuesday revealed the HRCP believed that the government did not fully appreciate the repercussions the reference would have on the sanctity of the superior judiciary and the subsequent political fallout.

“We believe that any mala fide acts on the government’s part will further weaken the constitutional institutions of the state,” it said.

Saying that the timing of the reference was perturbing, the commission added that not only had it (reference) effectively leapfrogged other references pending with the SJC, but the review petitions filed against Justice Isa’s judgment in the 2017 Faizabad sit-in case also remained undecided.

It said a wide segment of civil society and the legal fraternity had already expressed its dismay over what was being perceived as an attempt to undermine the independence of the judiciary and make it subservient to the wishes of the executive.

HRCP reposed its confidence in the ability of the SJC and the Supreme Court to overcome the crisis created by the reference filed by the government against Justice Isa, it concluded.

Published in Dawn, June 12th, 2019