Attorney General levels serious allegations against Supreme Court Justice Qazi Faiz Esa.
Attorney General Anwar Mansoor Khan submitted a response in a presidential reference filed against Justice Qazi Faez Esa.
n the response, the court has been told that Justice Esa is the original owner of three properties in Britain and is still reluctant to reveal the sources of his income used to purchase the properties.
The attorney general further mentioned that the presidential reference postulated ‘benami’ nature of the properties abroad “which were concealed and not disclosed as required by the law.” Importantly, the wife and children of the petitioner judge had no independent source of income and were not in a position to provide funds necessary for the purchase of three properties when they were bought.
“As the attorney general, it is my responsibility to advise the council […] Justice Qazi Faez Esa’s allegations are solely based on assumptions […] transparency and accountability is an integral part of democracy,” Mr Mansoor Khan stated in the courtroom.
The court was informed that the only conclusion which could be drawn was that the said properties were ‘benami’ in nature and the petitioner judge was the ostensible owner of these properties.
Mr Mansoor Khan further told the court that it was not wrong for the law minister to distribute checks in the bar councils.
Notably, Justice Isa has practiced law for over 27 years before the High Courts of Pakistan, the Federal Shariat Court and the Supreme Court of Pakistan. He became a member of the Balochistan High Court Bar Association, Sindh High Court Bar Association and Life Member of the Supreme Court Bar Association of Pakistan.
From time to time, he was called upon by the High Courts and the Supreme Court as amicus curiae and rendered assistance in certain complicated cases. He has also conducted international arbitration.
Justice Isa took oath as a judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan on September 5, 2014, and is scheduled to become the chief justice on September 18, 2023, for 13 months.
