ISLAMABAD: Former chief justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar on Tuesday issued a rebuttal, saying that the latest audio clip — purportedly of a conversation between him and PTI legal adviser Khawaja Tariq Rahim regarding a high-profile case currently being heard by the Supreme Court — was a “theft” as he questioned its authenticity.
Speaking to media, Nisar termed the audio clip a violation of his right to privacy, adding: “This is a theft of my fundamental rights.”
“I am a citizen of Pakistan, an ex-CJP and I give free advice to those in office. Khawaja Tariq Rahim is a friend and I gave him advice,” he said and went on to question the authenticity of the leaked clip.
In the audio clip, a voice, allegedly of the former chief justice, could be heard giving the reference of a 2010 SC judgement to PTI’s Rahim.
“Please look into that it is a seven-member judgment this is suo motu number 4 of 2010, sir seven-member judgement, 2012, has been reported on page number 553 of the Supreme Court,” Nisar purportedly says.
Here, the man on the other end of the call, believed to be Rahim, replies in the affirmative. “Whoever is your lawyer, tell him to check it out. It states that if never mind, you’ll know when you will read it,” the ex-CJP allegedly says.
In response, the PTI lawyer purportedly says: “I will read. I have seen the seven-member bench judgment. They have stated in it that until the act is not formulated if you read it carefully, clause three has it”
At that, the man believed to be Nisar replies “yes I have seen that, it is the way out for you”.
He allegedly goes on: “And secondly Tariq sahab, if any person of yours is ready, you can use the Munir Ahmed Khan [judgment] which is a clear case of contempt of court.”
“That too that too,” Rahim apparently replies after which the ex-CJP purportedly says “after what happened in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, I don’t think there is any.”
Interjecting the man believed to be Nisar, the person on the other end says that “we are only waiting for the three-member bench’s verdict it can take another half an hour after that, we are filing a contempt application”.
The audio leak comes days before an SC bench — comprising Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial, Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Munib Akhtar — is set to resume hearing a case pertaining to elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab.
—Agencies
