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Police officers walk past the Supreme Court of Pakistan building in Islamabad, Pakistan April 6, 2022. REUTERS
ISLAMABAD:
Some Supreme Court judges have made really interesting comments regarding the status of the court after the 27th Constitutional Amendment, which carved out a separate court – the Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) – from the apex court to decide constitutional issues, leaving cases of lesser importance to the SC.
Last week during the hearing of a promotion case, Judge Syed Mansoor Ali Shah had stated that he would refer all difficult cases to the FCC now, while adding that “we [the SC judges] are powerless people anyway.” The courtroom had erupted into laughter at his remarks.
Justice Shah and Justice Athar Minallah had later tendered their resignations in protest against the constitutional tweak.
A similar remark was heard on Tuesday during the hearing of a petition filed by a police officer against some adverse remarks made against him by a court due to the officer’s alleged failure to produce witnesses after registering an FIR.
A division bench comprising Justice Hashim Khan Kakar and Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim heard the plea of police officer Malik Jameel Zafar, who was the SP when a Faisalabad court made adverse remarks about him.
Zafar, now a DIG headquarters, was present in the courtroom along with his lawyer Shah Khawar. During the hearing, Judge Ibrahim noted that a policeman’s duty is not just to send people to jail – he also has to present witnesses to the courts.
“The trial judge cannot go and bring the witnesses himself,” he added.
Judge Kakar asked the lawyer if the police officer standing with him was YOU. When Shah Khawar replied in the affirmative, Justice Kakar urged the people to look at the officer.
“Look at him—he’s standing here scaring us. Brother, we’ve got nothing to lose after all.” The courtroom erupted in laughter at the judge’s remarks.
The Supreme Court then referred the matter to the Lahore High Court.
