ISLAMABAD -UNS: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan on Monday moved the Supreme Court of Pakistan against formation of a judicial commission by the federal government to probe the varacity of audio leaks which have surfaced in the media in recent times.
In the constitutional petition, the PTI chairman pleaded the apex court to declare the commission null and void. The PTI chief took the plea that no judge could be appointed as a member of the judicial commission without permission of the Chief Justice of Pakistan.
He argued that the proper forum for any probe or taking action against any judge was the Supreme Judicial Council. Imran Khan filed the petition through his counsel Babar Awan.
Judicial Commission pledges transparency
Earlier, the Judicial Commission said the proceedings of the probe body would be made public.
The inquiry commission, headed by Justice Qazi Faez Isa, said if any sensitive matter was brought before them, they would review the request for an in-camera action. The commission ordered the federal government to provide the email addresses and all relevant material.
The judicial commission started its proceedings in the Supreme Court building. The commission includes Justice Qazi Faez Isa, Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Amir Farooq and Balochistan High Court Chief Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan.
Attorney General for Pakistan Usman Mansoor Awan appeared before the audio leaks commission. Justice Qazi Faez Isa inquired that under which law the commission was formed? The attorney general replied that the commission was formed under the Commission of Inquiry Act 2016.
The judicial commission said the proceedings on the issue of audio leaks would be made public. Justice Qazi Faez Isa said in his remarks that two elderly women were also included among those to be investigated. If requested, the commission would also go to Lahore for necessary action.
The commission directed the attorney general to provide the mobile phone numbers and SIMs of all concerned. It also sought email addresses.
Qazi Faez Isa said the commission would seek public help to provide information through advertisement. The information provider would have to reveal his identity and information received from unknown sources would not be acceptable.
The judicial commission asked the government to furnish it with all the audio recordings and said the federal government should provide all the material by Wednesday. The transcripts of all the audios had also been directed to be provided with the signature of a responsible officer.
