During the hearing of former CCPO Lahore Ghulam Mehmood Dogar’s transfer case Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial remarked that the “Supreme Court is a constitutional institution of Pakistan, which is being maligned with audiotapes”.
The remarks were passed by the top judge while heading a two-member bench hearing a plea filed by former Lahore capital city police officer Ghulam Mehmood Dogar against his transfer. We are exercising restraint, but will defend the Supreme court, the CJP further said while rejecting the plea against the transfer of CCPO Ghulam Mahmood Dogar.
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“We will protect Pakistan’s constitutional institution with forgiving and restraint,” Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial said in the hearing. “These malicious audio leaks have no significance,” Justice Bandial further said.
“These audio tapes defaming constitutional institutions are of no importance. We are being patient and taking a lenient view of these tapes. We will protect the institution,” said the CJP. He added that it was unfortunate that baseless and false allegations have been made against the judges in audio and video leaks.
“What is the authenticity of these audio and video tapes?” remarked the CJP.
Earlier at the outset of the hearing, former CCPO Lahore Ghulam Mehmood Dogar lawyer Abid Zuberi told the court that he wishes to take back the petition.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) lawyer informed the court that the election schedule has been issued for the polls in Punjab
“As per Article 218 holding free and fair elections is our responsibility. For a level-playing field, the ECP has the power to shuffle the bureaucracy,” said the lawyer. He added that the caretaker government can also transfer officers with the ECP’s approval.
In response, Justice Yahya Afridi asked, when does the ECP exercise its power of issuing transfer and posting orders?
CJP Bandial remarked that the ECP uses the power to transfer officers to ensure transparent elections. “It has been proven that the caretaker government transfers officials with the ECP’s permission.”
“The Election Commission itself can give orders to the caretaker government to transfer officers,” said the CJP.
Moving on, CJP Bandial remarked that the ECP has wide-ranging powers, adding that all political parties should get an equal chance during elections.
The CJP also remarked that the ECP should not give a free hand to the caretaker government for the transfer of the officers. He added that ECP should ask the caretaker government about such transfers.
“The election commission of Pakistan is a constitutional institution, and we will provide it protection,” CJP earlier said. “The election commission has the mandate to conduct free& fair transparent elections in the country,” he further observed.
Remember that two purported audio leaks against a former CJP and an incumbent judge of the Supreme Court have recently got viral on social media.
Alleged audio of a conversation between former Chief Justice of Pakistan Saqib Nisar and PTI chairman Imran Khan’s lawyer Khawaja Tariq Raheem was leaked recently.
In the audio leak, Justice (retired) Saqib Nisar said that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) was ‘targeting’ the judiciary for personal gains.
Saqib Nisar had said Maryam Nawaz wants to achieve ‘specific gains’ by creating political chaos in the country.
