The objections raised by the previous Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) government against the members of the five-judge bench handling the audio commission case have been nullified by the Supreme Court of Pakistan. This significant development emerged from a five-member bench, with Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial at the helm, and included Justices Ijazul Ahsan, Munib Akhtar, Shahid Waheed, and Hasan Azhar Rizvi.
Their decision was reached after previously reserving judgment regarding the inquiry commission, led by Justice Qazi Faez Isa, that had been established by the former PDM government to investigate audio leaks.
The government's reservations pertained to the participation of Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Umar Ata Bandial, as well as Justices Ijazul Ahsan and Munib Akhtar on the bench. These objections were ultimately overruled, with Justice Ijazul Ahsan emphasizing in the delivered verdict that these objections were seen as an affront to the independence of the judiciary.
The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President Abid Shahid Zuberi's petition was pivotal in this context, as it sought to challenge the objections made by the government. The court's decision to reject these objections reaffirmed the judiciary's independence and authority.
This legal saga dates back to May 26, when the five-member bench, led by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial, issued an order that temporarily halted proceedings related to multiple petitions contesting the constitution of the judicial commission established by the federal government.
This commission was tasked with investigating the authenticity of audio leaks allegedly implicating a Supreme Court judge and a relative of the chief judge. Notably, the commission was headed by Justice Qazi Faez Isa, the most senior judge after the Chief Justice, and included Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Balochistan High Court Chief Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan