Law minister denies modifying reference against Justice Isa

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – Law Minister Dr Muhammad Farogh Naseem on Friday rejected reports that the Law Ministry had modified the misconduct reference against Justice Qazi Faez Isa on President Arif Alvi’s directions. In a statement by the Law Ministry, the reference was filed against the Justice Qazi Faez Isa on the complaints of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and Asset Recovery Unit (ARU). The ministry said that the impression about the ministry filing the reference against Justice Isa is wrong. “It is wrong and unfair to call us the mastermind of references”, asserted the ministry. The Law Ministry explained that that they do not even have the mechanism to check the assets of judges. The ministry said that they had no role in the referencing of Justice Isa. The statement clarified that the rumors about President revising the harsh language used by Ministry of Law in the reference is totally fake. President neither sent any directive nor was language revised in the reference. Justice Qazi Faez Isa, a senior Supreme Court judge, earlier approached President Arif Alvi, to provide a copy of reference reportedly filed against him under Article 209 of the constitution. It was reported that the references accuse the two judges of concealing their assets and recommend action against them under Article 209 of the Constitution. However, the presidential reference was sent to the Supreme Judicial Council two days ago. The SJC has been requested to initiate proceedings against the judges under Article 209 of the Constitution. The presidential reference has been filed against the judges over the allegations of hiding their assets. The AGP will appear in the hearing of reference as prosecutor.