MINISTER SAYS CJP, LHC CJ NOT CONSULTED FOR PROBE PANEL: Commission Without Commission.

ISLAMABAD: The federal government on Saturday formed a three-member judicial commission, led by Supreme Court senior judge Justice Qazi Faez Isa, to probe the veracity of audio leaks and their impact on the independence of the judiciary.

The commission includes Balochistan High Court (BHC) Chief Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Aamer Farooq. The commission was formed under Section 3 of the Inquiry Commission Act 2017. The commission will probe the genuineness of the audio leaks and its impact on the independence of the judiciary. According to notification issued by the Cabinet Division's Statutory notification (S.R.O.) recently wide circulations of controversial audios have been witnessed on the national electronic, print and social media, allegedly regarding the judiciary and former Chief Justices/judges conversation raising serious apprehensions about the independence, impartiality and uprightness of the Chief Justices/judges of superior courts in the administration of justice. The notification stated that such audio leakes have eroded public trust and serious concerns have been raised by the general public regarding independence, impartiality And uprightness of the former Chief Justices/judges of superior courts. Under the Constitution, the independence, integrity and character of Chief Justices/judges is of utmost importance for keeping the public trust and confidence in the administration of justice. Judiciary is one of the main pillars under the Constitution and the Society's confidence is shattered when independence of judiciary is tarnished.

The notification further stated that it is imperative to inquire into the authenticity, correctness and veracity of these audio leaks in order to restore not just the credibility of the Judiciary but also the public trust and confidence in the judiciary in the larger public interest, as a matter of definite public importance. The Terms of Reference (TOR) of the Commission will be as follows:- (i) to inquire into the veracity of audio leaks allegedly concerning including the Judiciary; (a) call between ex-Chief Minister Punjab and an advocate regarding a sitting Judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, (b) between ex-Chief Minister, Punjab and an advocate regarding fixation of some cases before a particular Bench of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, (c) between ex-Chief Minister Punjab and a sitting Judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, (d) between Retired...