PM withdraws reference against Justice Faez Isa.

ISLAMABAD -- Terming the curative reference filed against Justice Qazi Faez Isa of the Supreme Court in 2019 'baseless and politically motivated', Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered its immediate withdrawal on Thursday.

According to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), Mr Sharif instructed Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar to withdraw the reference, saying the government would not pursue the same for it being baseless and politically motivated. The federal cabinet has already approved the withdrawal of the reference.

'This was not a reference rather a victimisation by revengeful Imran Niazi against an impartial person pursuing the course of Constitution and the law. This was a conspiracy to usurp the independence of judiciary and create a division within,' PM Shehbaz remarked in a tweet.

He pointed out that while being in opposition, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and other coalition parties had opposed the 'frivolous' reference.

Shehbaz criticises previous PTI govt for initiating case

The prime minister regretted that Imran Niazi had also made the president of Pakistan 'misuse' his office for the 'criminal act', adding that he [president] became an accomplice in an attack on the judiciary.

He said the lawyers' bodies, including the Pakistan Bar Council, had also opposed the reference and the government valued their opinion.

In another statement, PM Shehbaz said that Justice Isa and his family were 'harassed and defamed' in the name of the...