Justice Mansoor Ali Shah Declines to Attend Farewell for Chief Justice Qazi Faiz Isa

Islamabad-(Mudassar Iqbal): Senior Judge Syed Mansoor Ali Shah has officially declined to attend the Reference for outgoing Chief Justice Qazi Faiz Isa, scheduled on October 25, 2024.

In his letter, Justice Shah conveyed significant concerns about Chief Justice Isa’s leadership and approach during his tenure. Shah underscored the importance of honoring judicial traditions, explaining that a Reference should commend a Chief Justice’s dedication and service. However, he pointed out that “traditions, like institutions, depend on the qualities of those who represent them.” He cited a similar decision in 2019, when he refrained from attending the Reference for former Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, due to what he considered overreach beyond Nisar’s constitutional boundaries.

In a critical assessment of Isa’s tenure, Shah claimed that Isa “remained complacent and unresponsive to external influences and pressures on the judiciary,” which, he argued, undermined the judiciary’s integrity. Shah accused Isa of not fulfilling the Chief Justice’s core duty to uphold judicial independence and ensure justice, saying this contributed to “deep divisions and fractured relationships” within the court.

Shah denounced the idea of celebrating a Chief Justice whose tenure, in his view, was characterized by “pettiness, vindictiveness, and a limited approach to administrative responsibilities.” He concluded, “I cannot stand at a Reference for such a Chief Justice,” expressing profound concerns over the implications of honoring Isa’s tenure.

Shah’s decision not to attend reflects underlying tensions within Pakistan’s judiciary and sparks questions about the future direction of the nation’s legal system.

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