Islamabad (Web Desk): Two Supreme Court (SC) judges on Tuesday recused themselves from hearing the petition challenging the presidential reference against Justice Qazi Faez Isa.
According to details, Justice Sardar Tariq Masood and Justice Ijazul Ahsan recused themselves from a seven-judge larger bench hearing petitions challenging the presidential references filed against Justice Qazi Faez Isa.
The bench decided to send the matter of forming a new bench to hear the presidential reference against Justice Qazi Faez Isa to the chief justice.
On September 13, Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Asif Saeed Khosa constituted a seven-judge bench of the apex court to hear presidential reference against Justice Qazi Faez Isa over his alleged non-disclosure of assets.
The bench, led by Justice Umar Ata Bandial comprised Justice Maqbool Baqar, Justice Manzoor Ahmad Malik, Justice Sardar Tariq Masood, Justice Faisal Arab, Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Mazhar Alam Khan Miankhel.
During today’s hearing, Justice Isa’s counsel Muneer A Malik reiterated the need for justice to be done and also be seen to be done, adding that no judge should be the decider of his own cause.
To this, Justice Bandial asserted that none of the judges was partial or biased and should not be treated as harbouring biases or self-interests.
Malik referred to precedents set by Justice (retd) Ajmal Mian and Justice Falak Shair who recused themselves from hearing similar cases in the past.
Justice Ijazul Ahsan, announcing his recusal, said the reservations against him were “unfortunate and not justified” but he was recusing himself to “maintain the highest standard of fairness”.
Meanwhile, Justice Masood said he had decided not to hear the case before Justice Isa requested his recusal.
On July 2, a five-member SJC bench headed by CJP Asif Saeed Khosa and comprising Justice Gulzar Ahmed, Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed, Singh High Court (SHC) Chief Justice Ahmed Ali M Shaikh and the Peshawar High Court (PHC) Chief Justice Waqar Ahmed Seth heard the references against Justice Faez Isa for allegedly possessing properties in the United Kingdom.
Justice Isa has already excused himself from being part of any bench and hearing cases.
On June 15, the same bench held the first hearing of the references.