Info Minister says questions on Judge’s accountability crucial | Asserts new CJP will face challenges on judiciary performance | Criticises detailed verdict on review pleas filed in Justice Isa case | Calls for judiciary active role over providing justice
By Ali Imran
ISLAMABAD: Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry on Sunday criticised the detailed judgement pertaining to the review petitions filed in Justice Qazi Faez Isa case, saying if a judge could not be held accountable for the assets of their spouse and children then how was it possible to hold bureaucrats and politicians accountable.
The minister said the judiciary needed introspection in the light of its “fast declining” ranking at the global level.
“The new chief justice will have to face this challenge after he takes the oath,” Fawad claimed.
In its judgement released on Saturday, the SC had observed that Justice Isa could not be held liable to account for alleged tax evasion, if any, by his independent spouse, under any law of the land or under any clause in the Code of Conduct prescribed for the judges of superior courts.
“This Court could not have issued any direction to the Council to exercise its suo motu jurisdiction.”
Justice Yahya Afridi in his additional note had written that section 216 of the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001, commanded confidentiality of the information of a tax filer, and breach thereof exposed the delinquent to penal consequences under sections 198 and 199 of the Ordinance.
He had added that Prime Minister Imran Khan, Law Minister Dr Farogh Naseem, ARU Chairman Mirza Shahzad Akbar and tax officials were liable to penal consequences of violating section 216 of Income Tax Ordinance 2001.
