Imran Khan backs Justice Mansoor Ali Shah on judges’ committee saga

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder and former prime minister Imran Khan has expressed his support for Supreme Court Puisne Judge Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, who earlier voiced his reservations about the formation of the new three-member committee after the promulgation of the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Amendment Ordinance. This ordinance addresses the affairs of the apex court, including the formation of benches.

Speaking to journalists in Adiala jail, the former prime minister said that everything had become clear after the Supreme Court’s verdict on reserved seats.

He stated that the chief election commissioner is not just a “biased umpire” but also an opener for their team, followed by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, whom he described as “1-down.”

According to him, all their moves indicate a conflict of interest. “They want a two-thirds majority in parliament so these umpires can get extensions. It has become clear that Qazi Faez Isa was part of the ‘London Plan,’ and he has defrauded the nation,” Khan alleged.

The PTI founder further said that their petitions regarding May 9 and February 8 were not heard by Qazi Faez Isa, and instead, “he reduced our seats by four. Everything is exposed.”

Imran Khan added that “a third umpire is backing them, and he too will get an extension. This is a group effort.” He also claimed that the PTI was not heard during the NAB amendments case.

According to Khan, there was a deliberate plan to keep PTI out of the election, and an attempt was made to “break up” the party. “Now, everything has been exposed, and the curtains have been completely drawn back,” he said.

Khan criticized the removal of what he called “great judges,” naming Ijazul Ahsan and Mazahir Naqvi, who, he said, were ousted by Qazi Faez Isa. He alleged that the Practice and Procedure Act was drafted by Qazi Faez Isa himself and later amended.

“The chief justice wants to establish his dictatorship through this new legislation. This law violates the democratic process of assigning case dates. I fully endorse Justice Mansoor Ali Shah’s stance on the Practice and Procedure Committee,” he said.

He also announced plans to protest on Thursday against what he described as an attack on the judiciary. Khan said the PTI has planned another protest on Friday and will hold a rally in Rawalpindi on Saturday. He warned that if permission for the rally is denied, they will protest.

Khan criticised the control over the subordinate judiciary, saying, “The subordinate judiciary is completely under their influence, and judges who cannot be controlled are transferred. When a judge began adjudicating the May 9 cases, he was replaced.”

He went on to say, “It is unfortunate that the appointment of the DG ISI makes headlines here. Around the world, the appointment of military officers doesn’t make news, but in our country, it does—even though they have no role in politics.”

He added, “Pakistan has completely become a police state; this is martial law, stricter even than that of Zia and Musharraf. During Musharraf’s time, we held massive rallies, but nothing like this ever happened to us.”