The recent judgement in the Justice Qazi Faiz Isa presidential reference case and the fallout after the allegations by former DG FIA Bashir Memon will certainly taint the PTI’s reputation. The party claims it was founded on the principles of equality and justice and cannot allow dual standards but the recent happenings have embroiled the party into a new controversy.
The former FIA chief, who was sacked just days before his retirement in 2019, made the bombshell revelations that the prime minister and some of this cabinet members pressured him to lodge cases against the Supreme Court judge and opposition leaders. He also made the startling revelations that the prime minister instructed him to file terrorism cases against Maryam Nawaz for her explosive presser against the judiciary. The allegations, if true, suggests the government had planned a witch hunt against the opposition.
The timings of Memon’s revelations should also be taken into consideration. This comes a day after the apex court accepted Justice Isa and his wife’s review petition. The judge was finally vindicated and all proceedings against him and his family were dropped. The verdict was a rare show of solidarity with a fellow judge to show the superiority of the judiciary and adherence to constitutionalism. Just days later, Memon appeared and claimed that the prime minister and his cabinet members particularly Shehzad Akbar and Law Minister Farogh Naseen pressured him to file cases against the judge which he refused.
The revelations have also given fodder to the opposition particularly Maryam Nawaz who wants the top court to take notice and form a judicial commission to probe the matter. The allegations also show that the government is highly influential on state institutions which can hamper their smooth functioning and provision of justice. The prime minister claimed that FIA, NAB and other vital institutions were independent and there was no political interference. Memon’s allegations have refuted these claims and shows that higher authorities continue to play the shots, meddle in internal matters and dominate over them
The government can discredit these allegations and claim Memon has a soft corner for the opposition but these will not go away. The prime minister needs to demonstrate that the FIA is an independent institution and not used for political vicitmisation. It is imperative that record should be cleared or it will be another blotch on the PTI’s image.
