SC nullifies reference against Justice Qazi Faez Isa, orders action against Shahzad Akbar & Farogh Naseem

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – The Supreme Court on Friday ruled that the mala fide intent of the government could not be proved in the presidential reference against Justice Qazi Faez Isa.

The 224-page detailed judgment authored by Justice Umar Atta Bandial said that the judgment of the former chief justice Iftikhar Ch case cannot be applied to this case.

The court ordered action against Federal Law Minister Farogh Naseem and Adviser to Prime Minister on Accountability and Interior Shahzad Akbar.

It ruled that the mala fide intent was clear in the presidential reference against former chief justice Iftikhar Chaudhary. "It is legal and constitutional right to file review petitions against judgments," it ruled.

The judgment states that there was no section which says the reference against judges should be kept secret. "The reference was formed on the basis of the properties in London, not Faizabad sit-in case," it said.

It ruled that the review petitions in the Faizabad sit-in case cannot be presented as evidence of the mala fide intent.

On June 19, a 10-member bench of the SC had announced the short verdict in the case and declared the reference against Justice Qazi Faez Isa null and void.

The court had referred the matter of inquiries into London properties to the Federal Board of Revenue.