Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, the senior puisne judge, expressed criticism towards outgoing Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa while explaining his reasons for not attending the full court reference held in honor of the retiring judge. In a letter to the registrar, Justice Shah emphasized the importance of the merits of individuals who embody judicial traditions and institutions.
Justice Shah noted that he had previously chosen not to participate in a reference for former Justice Saqib Nisar, who he believed had overstepped his jurisdiction in 2019. He reiterated that he was making the same decision regarding the current full reference for CJP Isa, citing his concerns over the outgoing chief justice’s conduct.
Read more: CJP Isa Honored with Farewell Dinner by SCBA, PBC
The senior judge criticized CJP Isa for his complacency and indifference to external pressures on the judiciary, likening him to an ostrich with its head in the sand. He accused Isa of failing to protect the judiciary’s role as a check on power, compromising the foundation of the rule of law by yielding to those seeking to weaken the courts.
Justice Shah condemned Isa’s lack of respect for judicial collegiality, his pattern of self-righteousness, and his refusal to engage in consensus-building. He characterized Isa’s tenure as marked by pettiness and a lack of grace or humility, stating that celebrating such a chief justice would undermine the integrity of the judiciary. Consequently, he declared that he could not, in good conscience, stand at a reference for someone he viewed as having betrayed the institution.
