Mian Saqib Nisar, who used to be Chief Justice of Pakistan, is back in the news because of his audio
One clip reportedly shows him and PTI legal adviser Khawaja Tariq Rahim talking about politically important legal issues.
The audio clip came out just a few days before a top court bench starts hearing a case about elections in Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
Audio and video of Former CJ of Pakistan Saqib Nisar goes viral on Twitter and Reddit
Everyone knows association of 3 judge bench especially one member with Saqib Nisar, who is trying hard to halt Justice Isa from becoming CJP to secure post Panama jurisprudence after incumbent retirement.Elections matter must be referred to full court which is good for PTI too. https://t.co/cnRS1ldd3x
— Hasnaat Malik (@HasnaatMalik) April 25, 2023
In the audio clip, Saqib Nisar is said to be calling Rahim’s attention to a seven-judge bench’s ruling in a case against former Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani that was brought up on its own in 2010. Nisar tells Rahim that he needs to pay close attention to the judgement, and Rahim says that he will look into it.
Saqib Nisar is then said to have said that the decision against Munir Ahmed Khan could be used as a clear case of contempt of court. Rahim is said to agree and to say that they are waiting for the decision of the three-member bench before making a contempt application.
The Supreme Court is the worst institution at the moment. Attabandial will not take notice of the Adio leak because his partners are involved in it and he himself is acting on the advice of Saqib Nisar. There will be the highest judiciary
Salim Bukhari
#ثاقب_نثار_کی_غلیظ_باقیات pic.twitter.com/fMu48M1tmi— Umaima PMLN (@U_M_PML) April 25, 2023
Some politicians have criticised Nisar for what they say is his participation in politics because of the video. Khawaja Asif, who is in charge of defence, wrote that he was upset and said that Nisar was going too far in his fight against PML-N leader and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif. Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb called the ongoing constitutional situation “mothers-in-law and Dam Baba vs. Constitution of Pakistan.”
Saqib Nisar disputes authenticity of audio clip
Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar called the clip “unfortunate” and said that the talk showed that Nisar was telling the PTI what needed to be done. He also said that the former CJP Saqib Nisar should be careful because of how people see him.
But Nisar has questioned whether or not the audio clip is real. Saqib Nisar has said that it violates his right to privacy and takes away his “fundamental rights.” He said he was a citizen of Pakistan and a former Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) who gives free advice to people in power. He also said that Khawaja Tariq Rahim is a friend and that he gave him advice.
The audio clip surfaced at a very important time for the country, as a top court bench was about to start hearing a case about elections in Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. The Supreme Court recently told the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to hold general elections in Punjab on May 14, but the government did not follow its orders. The court has given the political groups a week to agree on a date for the elections so that they can all take place on the same day. On April 27, the court is likely to keep going with the case.
Former CJP Saqib Nisar no stranger to audio leak controversies
This isn’t the first time Saqib Nisar has been in trouble because of a tape. In 2019, an audio clip of Nisar talking to the son-in-law of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif about a corruption case got out. This led to calls for an investigation into the behaviour of the former CJP.
The new audio involving Nisar has once again made people wonder how much senior judges should be involved in politics. Critics have said that Nisar broke the rules as a past chief justice by getting involved in politics. The controversy has also shown how important it is to make it harder for people to record and share private conversations between public figures without their permission.