ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Friday held a full court reference to bid farewell to outgoing Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, which was attended by his colleagues and prominent lawyers who recounted salient features of his tenure.
Isa, who retires today, took over as the country’s top judge on Sep. 17, 2023. He was appointed a judge of the Supreme Court on Sep. 5, 2014, prior to which he held the position of the Balochistan High Court chief justice from Aug. 5, 2009 till Sep. 4, 2014.
The full court reference was live-streamed on the Supreme Court website and YouTube channel. Fourteen Supreme Court judges, including Chief Justice-designate Yahya Afridi, were in attendance at the reference.
Addressing the reference, Isa reflected on his career and said taking up the responsibility of a judge had been a “life-changing experience” for him.
“I took the job at a time when there was no judge in Balochistan,” he said, crediting his wife, Sarina Isa, for supporting him in doing “a lot of work” for the people of the impoverished Pakistani province.
“Me and my wife, who was on the forefront, did a lot of work for the people of Balochistan.”
Justice Afridi showered his praises on Chief Justice Isa, describing him as “one of the best human beings” from whom he had got to learn a great deal.
“If you meet, greet and treat Justice Faez Isa with a smile and humility, he will reciprocate with such gentle softness, likeness and care that it will leave you astonished,” Justice Afridi remarked.
“But mind you, if you in any way provoke him, or if I may say so poke the bear, then even hell hath no fury to match his scorn and only God may help and save you.”
He said the outgoing chief justice would be missed in the Supreme Court: “We have a rush of feelings while saying goodbye to the chief justice.”
Senior puisne judge, Mansoor Ali Shah, recused himself from the reference. Among other judges who did not attend the full court reference were Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice Ayesha Malik, Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Malik Shahzad Ahmad Khan.
On the occasion, Attorney-General of Pakistan Mansoor Usman Awan, Pakistan Bar Council Vice-Chairman Farooq H. Naek, and Supreme Court Bar Association President Shahzad Shaukat also addressed the full court, praising Justice Isa for his work.
Pakistan Supreme Court holds reference to bid farewell to Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa
https://arab.news/5wp5h
Pakistan Supreme Court holds reference to bid farewell to Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa
- Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa is set to retire today after serving as the top judge for more than a year
- Justice Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Munib Akhtar among other judges did not attend the event
Curfew extended in Gilgit-Baltistan, probe ordered after deadly Khamenei protests
- At least 15 people were killed in clashes with law enforcement agencies over the weekend in Gilgit-Baltistan
- Government also announces a de-weaponization campaign, crackdown on hate speech and cybercrime in region
ISLAMABAD: The government in Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) region on Tuesday extended a curfew in Gilgit district and ordered a judicial probe into violent protests over the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in US-Israeli strikes last week, an official said.
At least 15 people were killed in clashes with law enforcement agencies over the weekend in GB, where protesters torched and vandalized several buildings, including United Nations regional offices, an army-run school, software technology park and a local charity building.
The violence prompted regional authorities to impose curfew in Gilgit and Skardu districts on March 2-4 as officials urged people to stay indoors and cooperate with law enforcers, amid widespread anger in Pakistan, particularly among members of the Shiite minority, over Khamenei’s killing.
On Tuesday, the GB government convened to review the situation and announced the extension of curfew in Gilgit among a number of security measures as well as ordered the establishment of a judicial commission to investigate the weekend violence in the region.
“The government has made it clear that the law will strictly take its course against elements involved in vandalism at government institutions, private properties and incidents of vandalism in Gilgit and Skardu and no kind of mischief will be tolerated,” Shabbir Mir, a GB government spokesperson, said in a statement.
“In view of the security situation, curfew will remain in force in Gilgit, while the decision to extend the curfew in Skardu will be taken keeping the ground realities and the changing situation in view.”
The statement did not specify how long the curfew will remain in place in Gilgit.
Besides the formation of the judicial commission to investigate the violent clashes, the government also decided to launch a large-scale de-weaponization campaign in the entire Gilgit district, for which relevant institutions have been directed to immediately complete all necessary arrangements, according to Mir.
In addition, a crackdown has been ordered on hate speech, spread of fake news and cybercrime.
“The aim of these decisions is to ensure the rule of law, protect the lives and property of citizens and crack down on miscreants,” he said. “Approval has also been given to immediately survey the affected infrastructure and start their restoration work on priority basis.”
Demonstrators in Pakistan’s southern port city of Karachi also stormed the US Consulate on Sunday, smashing windows and attempting to burn the building. Police responded with batons, tear gas, and gunfire, leaving 10 people dead and more than 50 injured.
Pakistani authorities have since beefed up security at US diplomatic missions across the country, including around the US consulate building in Peshawar, to avoid any further violence.
