In a significant development, the Supreme Court of Pakistan has decisively rejected objections raised by the previous government regarding the bench assigned to hear the audio leaks commission case.
This case pertains to alleged audio leaks involving prominent legal figures, including Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Atta Bandial's mother-in-law, Khawaja Tariq Rahim's wife, former Chief Justice Saqib Nisar's son, Justice Mazahir Naqvi, Abid Zuberi, and Parvez Elahi.
The inquiry commission, chaired by Justice Qazi Faiz Isa, had been tasked with investigating nine alleged audio leaks, with the participation of chief justices from the Islamabad and Balochistan high courts. Nevertheless, Abid Zuberi challenged the commission's legitimacy, leading to the formation of a five-member bench headed by Chief Justice Umar Atta Bandial.
Despite the government's attempts to seek the separation of three judges from the bench due to perceived conflicts of interest, the Supreme Court, led by Justice Ijazul Ahsan, issued a decisive ruling, characterizing the objections as an assault on judicial independence.
This landmark decision underscores the judiciary's commitment to upholding its independence and integrity. A more detailed judgment on the case is expected to be released by the Supreme Court at a later date.
