Govt ready to face consequences if reference against Justice Qazi Faez Isa is quashed: Farogh Naseem.

ISLAMABAD -- Federal government's counsel Barrister Dr. Farogh Naseem stated before the Supreme Court of Pakistan on Monday that the president, the prime minister, and the law minister were ready to face the consequences if the presidential reference against Justice Qazi Faez Isa is quashed.

A full court 10-member bench headed led by Justice Umar Ata Bandial and comprising justice Maqbool Baqar, Justice Manzoor Ahmad Malik, Justice Faisal Arab, Justice Mazhar Alam Khan Miankhel, Justice Sajjad Ali Shah, Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice Yahya Afridi and Justice Qazi Muhammad Amin Ahmed was hearing Justice Qazi Faez Isa's case against the presidential reference filed against him for not disclosing properties of his family members in his wealth statement.

At the start of the 40th hearing the case the counsel for Justice Qazi Faez Isa, Munir Ahmed Malik submitted the written reply which was accepted by the bench.

Later on while starting arguments Barrister Dr. Farogh Naseem maintained that it appeared as if the government functionaries - the prime minister, the president, and the law minister - were on trial and not the judge who has yet to explain the source of income for his family members' properties. 'We are ready to face consequences,' said the federal lawyer, while making explicit that the consequences would be across the board.

Earlier, Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah had observed that the government is also accountable if the reference is not maintainable. 'There should be consequences if the reference is quashed based on malice,' noted Justice Maqbool Baqar.

Meanwhile, Justice Bandial observed that no bar association has ever complained about Justice Isa being dishonest. None of the government's allegations prove dishonesty of Justice Isa, he remarked.

The federal counsel maintained that a judge is the most powerful person in society, and therefore, he argued, we must have confidence that the judge is free of controversy. The independence of the judiciary comes through integrity, and there should be good public perception of the judge, added Dr Naseem.

At this, Justice Shah inquired whether the counsel admits that this is a case pertaining to independence of the judiciary.

Justice Shah further asked the federal counsel whether a husband could seek his wife's tax records from the Federal Board...