Chief Justice of Pakistan Approves Withdrawal of Curative Review Petition Against Judge Qazi Faez Isa
ISLAMABAD: In a significant development, Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial has granted approval to the federal government’s request to withdraw the curative review petition filed against Senior Puisne Judge Qazi Faez Isa. The petition had been filed by the previous Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led government.
Earlier in April this year, CJP Bandial reserved the verdict on the federal government’s plea, and today (Friday), the verdict was announced, confirming the disposal of the petition based on withdrawal.
The withdrawal request was made by the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM)-led government, seeking to withdraw the curative review petition against Justice Isa.
The process involved President Dr. Arif Alvi’s approval, who signed the Power of Attorney in favor of Advocate-on-Record (AOR) on the advice of PM Shehbaz. This step allowed for the withdrawal of the curative review petition and Civil Miscellaneous Application against Justice Isa, using Article 48 of the Constitution.
To provide context, the previous government of Imran Khan had filed a curative review petition against the majority’s decision in the review petitions of Justice Isa on April 26, 2021. However, the Supreme Court’s registrar raised objections to the petition, stating that once a review petition is decided, it cannot be reviewed.
Calling it an act of state-led vengeance by the former PTI-led government, the current Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) government expressed its desire to withdraw the appeal filed against the judgment of the country’s highest court.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, after announcing the government’s decision to call off the review against Justice Isa, tweeted, “On my direction, the government has decided to withdraw the Curative Review Petition against senior most Judge of the Supreme Court, Justice Qazi Faez Isa.” He further asserted that the curative review was driven by ill will to “harass and intimidate” Justice Isa, as demanded by his predecessor, Imran Khan.
Published in PakWeb, July 21, 2023.
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