ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Friday issued notice to Iftikharuddin Mirza, who purportedly hurled threats to Justice Qazi Faez Isa and others, in a video clip.
A two-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed, heard the suo motu, which was taken a day ago (Thursday) on a video clip that went viral on the social media containing derogatory, contemptuous, and scandalous language against the judiciary, and the judges.
The chief justice inquired from Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Khalid Jawed Khan what action the government had taken so far. The AGP replied that the matter was referred to the Cyber Crime Wing of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).
He said that the FIA, after registering a case under the Electronic Crime Act, 2016, had started a probe. Justice Ijazul Ahsan, another member of the bench, said the crime in the video clip, fell under the Pakistan Penal Code as the name of judiciary and individuals had been taken.
He said the name of an apex court judge had been taken in a derogatory manner. Justice Ahsan said the FIA came into action only after the registration of a complaint by the judge's wife at Secretariat Police Station.
Sarina Faez Isa, the wife of Justice Qazi Faez Isa, had lodged a complaint with Islamabad Police on Wednesday, stating, "I am the wife of Mr Justice Qazi Faez Isa, who is a judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan and whom a death threat has been extended."
She also wrote in her application submitted with the SHO Islamabad Secretariat Police Station, in person, that her father was very seriously ill, and "today is the first day", she had stepped out of the house.
"I do not want to also lose my husband," she added. Agha Iftikharuddin Mirza, in a video clip used derogatory, contemptuous, and scandalous language against the judiciary.
Last Friday (June 19), the top court had quashed the presidential reference filed against Justice Isa as well as the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) proceedings that were started on the basis of the reference. The case was adjourned until July 2.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020