The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has demanded that the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP), Qazi Faez Isa, be recused from any panels adjudicating cases involving the party and its founder, Imran Khan.
The demand was outlined in a statement after a PTI’s core committee meeting. The statement highlighted concerns that the Chief Justice’s involvement might compromise the integrity of the judicial proceedings.
This request comes as the Supreme Court is set to review the Sunni Ittehad Council’s case about reserved seats on June 3. Chief Justice Isa will preside over the bench. However, Justice Musarrat Hilali will be absent due to illness.
In related developments, a three-member bench led by Justice Mansoor Ali Shah and including Justices Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Athar Minallah has paused the implementation of rulings from the Election Commission of Pakistan and the Peshawar High Court. These rulings concern the distribution of reserved seats to various political groups. Justice Shah announced this suspension, stating the case is slated for an upcoming hearing.
Additionally, on Friday, Imran Khan appeared before a bench headed by Chief Justice Isa concerning amendments to the National Accountability Ordinance of 1999, further underscoring the ongoing legal engagements of PTI and its leadership.