ISLAMABAD: The executive committee of the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) on Thursday expressed concern over the disclosures by former director general of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Bashir Memon that he was allegedly pressurised by key government functionaries to conduct a probe against Supreme Court judge Justice Qazi Faez Isa.

Headed by its chairman Mohammad Faheem Wali, the executive committee demanded an inquiry by a high-powered judicial commission into the “revelations” and recommend stern action against the “delinquents”.

Mr Memon had in a recent TV talk show alleged that federal Law Minister Dr Farogh Naseem and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Accountability Mirza Shahzad Akbar in the latter’s office had asked him to proceed against Justice Isa on money laundering charges, but he had refused as the FIA had no grounds to do so, particularly since the matter pertained to a Supreme Court judge.

Consequently, Mr Akbar sent a libel notice to Mr Memon a day after the Supreme Court accepted Justice Isa’s review petition with a majority verdict, declaring all actions taken by the Federal Board of Revenue and other government institutions against the judge illegal.

Praises Supreme Court for its judgement on Justice Isa’s review petition

Through his notice, Mr Akbar has demanded that Mr Memon retract his defamatory remarks, issue an unconditional public apology and pay Rs500 million as compen-sation for causing damage to his reputation with Rs2m as legal fee or face consequences.

On Thursday, a meeting of the executive committee of the PBC was held. It was also attended by PBC vice chairman Khushdil Khan on special invitation, besides members Haroon-ur-Rashid, Mohammad Ahsan Bhoon, Mohammad Masood Chisthi, Hassan Raza Pasha, Syed Qalb-i-Hassan, Syed Amjad Shah and Abid Saqi.

Apart from transacting other business of its agenda, the committee unanimously adopted a resolution appreciating and supporting the landmark judgement passed by the Supreme Court in the review petition filed by Justice Isa.

“This will go a long way in determining the independence of judiciary and rule of law,” the committee observed and paid tribute to the apex court for standing its ground and dispensing justice in the matter.

The committee also demanded resignation of the law minister and Shahzad Akbar in view of the alleged dubious role they had played.

Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2021