As if mudslinging from different political parties was not enough, now differences with in the judiciary ranks have started hitting the headlines, compromising the integrity of the institution. The controversy stemmed from the developments of the Judicial Commission of Pakistan’s meeting where the honourable participants could not develop consensus on the nomination of judges of high courts to be elevated to the Supreme Court. Well, difference of opinion is a routine matter at such forums but eyebrows were raised by the following ‘contesting’ press releases by the Supreme Court and two honourable judges, who were part of the Judicial Commission of Pakistan. If that was not the end, Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial eased the rules and decided to make public the over-two-hour-long audio recording of the session. The release of the audio tape may worsen the matter as the tape is bound to tag one of the contesting judges wrong.
If the honourbale judges had any issue with the press release issued by the Supreme Court’s public relations officer on Thursday, they should have raised the matter internally, and tried to solve it. Or it could have been raised in the next meeting of the commission. Before the blame game goes on, it is appropriate for the honourable members of the Judicial Commission of Pakistan to work together for the strength of the judiciary. Already facing a low ranking in the international judiciary, by virtue of its poor working, the judiciary in Pakistan has been facing multiple issues. The chief justice of Pakistan has rightly turned down the formation of a full court bench on different occasions so that the smooth working of count goes on. A full bench court almost halts working on other benches and registries. Moreover, the country is passing through a cache of turmoil because of the delayed IMF loan disbursements and political instability. In these circumstances, the infighting in courts would entail disastrous consequences. The government should consider the chief justice’s proposal, which he floated in the commission’s meeting that the number of judges in the Supreme Court be increased.
