*ISLAMABAD – Supreme Court** Justice Qazi Faiz Isa has responded overreports of unprecedented reference against him.*
The senior Supreme Court judge has approached the President of Pakistanseeking clarity regarding reports that the government has filed a referenceagainst him over allegations of misconduct.
Justice Qazi Faez Isa, who is in line to eventually become chief justice ofPakistan, on May 28, wrote a letter to President Arif Alvi drawing hisattention towards reports quoting government sources that a reference hadbeen filed against him. Copies of the letter have been sent to the primeminister and the Supreme Court as well.
A source who has seen the letter told *The Express Tribune* that JusticeIsa wrote, “I have to come to learn that the government sources are statingthat a reference has been filed against me under Article 209 of theConstitution. I will be obliged if you (the president) could let me knowwhether this is correct and if it is, then provide me with a copy of thealleged reference.”
According to the source, Justice Isa further wrote, “I am confident thatyou will agree that if a reference has been filed and I have been calledupon to submit a reply, only then to the permission of the Supreme JudicialCouncil, the government may disclose the reference and my response thereto.”
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Likewise, the SC judge also went on to add that “selective leaks amount tocharacter assassination” jeopardise his right to due process and fairtrial, and undermines the institution of the judiciary.
The unprecedented move by Justice Isa came after it was reported that thegovernment has filed references against two superior courts judges who holdforeign property either in their own names or through their spouses.
