SC issues notice to federal govt on Justice Qazi Faez Isa's review petition.

ISLAMABAD -- The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Wednesday issued a notice to the federal government on Justice Qazi Faez Isa's review petition, with the apex court judge requesting a live broadcast of the review petition's proceedings.

As the 10-judge larger bench headed by Justice Umar Ata Bandial heard the plea on Thursday, Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah said that science and technology should be welcomed to bring transparency to the justice system.

He observed that science and technology have played a great role in improving and ensuring transparency in the system. The judge also referred to innovation in DNA research, as hundreds of convictions were overturned. Likewise, cameras were installed in the district courts for supervision.

However, Justice Shah also wondered about the downsides of live coverage of court proceedings. According to Justice Isa, two members of a bench could negate administrative decision taken by the full court. However, a decision by the 10-judge larger bench cannot be overturned by a full court from the administrative view.

Justice, he maintained, should not only be carried out but the same should be done visibly. He termed the judgment in the Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto murder case as the 'most controversial'. He also referred to Justice Naseem Hassan Shah's interview wherein he had revealed that there was pressure by the government to issue a verdict against the PPP leader.

The senior judge said that if a recording of the case was available, it could also be used for educational purposes. Why [do] we burry [the] history, he asked the bench.

At this, Justice Manzoor Ahmad Malik urged him to avoid the judgments that could be cited before him in a case.

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