ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court has taken suo motu notice of Senator Faisal Vawda’s press conference aimed at Islamabad High Court (IHC) Judge Babar Sattar, in which he demanded evidence of alleged interference in judicial matters.
A three-judge bench led by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Qazi Faez Isa will hear the matter on Friday (tomorrow), The Express Tribune learnt on Thursday.
The development comes hours after IHC responded to Vawda’s letter seeking clarification on Justice Sattar’s citizenship. The court clarified that as per the Constitution of Pakistan, citizenship or residence permit of another country does not bar a lawyer from becoming a judge.
The court’s reply further noted that details about dual citizenship are not sought from any lawyer being considered for the position of a high court judge.
The controversy surrounding Justice Sattar began after six IHC judges wrote a letter to the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC), complaining about intelligence agencies meddling in judicial affairs. Justice Sattar also became target of a smear campaign on social media and confidential information about him, including travel documents of him, his wife, and children, was leaked.
Justice Sattar reportedly wrote a separate letter to IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq, disclosing that a ‘top official’ from the security establishment threatened him to back off from scrutinising surveillance procedures in the audio leaks case.
A day later, Senator Vawda addressed a press conference, demanding Justice Sattar present evidence supporting his allegations of interference in judicial matters and that he was being ‘targeted’ and ‘threatened’.
The senator questioned why the judge did not bring the matter to the public at the time it happened.
“Article 19 of the Constitution gives every Pakistani the right to seek information. I, as a senator, seek details from you (Justice Sattar),” said Vawda.
“No work is finished until the paperwork is done.”
Vawda hoped the IHC judge would provide evidence soon and said several questions would arise if Justice Sattar failed to do so.
He also stressed that it was incumbent on the judge and the high court to clear the air, and questioned whether the absence of written documentation regarding his financial matters, if indeed true, raised doubts not only about him but also about the former IHC CJ – Justice Athar Minallah.
In an earlier interview to a private TV channel, the senator said he did not know Islamabad High Court’s Babar Sattar personally but felt that that he was a “better person or judge” as he was “appointed during their government”.
Vawda said he heard many “negative things” about Justice Sattar within his cabinet. The senator asserted his belief that when criticism is directed at an individual, there should be a discernible “spark” within them.
Referring to Justice Sattar and other judges on the Lettergate scandal, Vawda questioned why the judges’ conscience remained dormant during the demolition of Nasla Tower.
“When sessions court judge’s wife tortured the daughter of a poor person, the high court should have taken notice of it.”
Vawda said news was circulating on social media that Justice Sattar was running a school chain. “We don’t know if it is true or false. Justice Sattar should come and clear himself.”
