Supreme court Quashed reference against Justice Qazi Faez Isa

FBR would investigate the properties of Justice Qazi's wife

Supreme Court of Pakistan on Friday dismissed the presidential reference filed against Justice Qazi Faez Isa for allegedly not disclosing the London properties in his wealth returns. The SC also dismisses the notice issued to Justice Qazi Faez Isa by SJC. This decision has ended the SJC proceedings against Justice Qazi.  The case was wrapped up after Justice Isa's spouse provided the money trail pertaining to her foreign properties and the Federal Board of Revenue provided its input on the matter.

Supreme Court ordered FBR to issue notice to Justice Qazi’s wife within seven days. The FBR would decide the matter within 60 days.  The Supreme Judicial Council would then decide the matter.

The case was wrapped up after Justice Isa's spouse provided the money trail pertaining to her foreign properties and the Federal Board of Revenue provided its input on the matter.

The petitioner's lawyer, Munir A Malik, concluded his arguments in court by saying that the federation had "gotten on the wrong bus" in the case.

The Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) had initiated the proceedings against Justice Isa on allegations that he purchased three properties in London in the name of his wife and children between 2011 and 2015 — but did not allegedly disclose them in wealth returns declared in Pakistan.

Malik urged the court to dismiss the reference against the judge. He said that a website had been used to search for properties in London. The lawyer told the court that if one wanted to search properties in London, he/she had to pay for the privilege.

He said that the website sends a payment receipt to the relevant person who uses it to search for properties, via email. He said that British-Pakistani lawyer Zia ul Mustafa, who had searched for Justice Isa's alleged assets, had received three copies of the high commission's verified properties.

"Copies of politicians' properties searched were attached as well [in documents submitted]," he said. "If the government provides receipts as well then it will be revealed as to who searched for the properties," he added.

Malik said that if the search for the properties was conducted by the Asset Recovery Unit, then it should provide receipts. He said that it seemed as if the ARU had only facilitated the search.

"The government only wants to remove the author of the Faizabad dharna case," noted Malik.

                                                             Special correspondent