In a significant development, the government has formed a judicial commission consisting of three senior judges to conduct an inquiry into the authenticity and consequences of recent audio leaks. The commission, as per a government notification obtained by Dawn.com, will be chaired by Justice Qazi Faez Isa, a senior judge of the Supreme Court. Joining him on the commission are Chief Justice Aamer Farooq of the Islamabad High Court and Chief Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan of the Balochistan High Court.
The government has urged the commission to initiate the investigation promptly and complete it within 30 days. However, if additional time is required, the federal government has assured its extension. The primary focus of the commission’s inquiry will be the most recent wave of audio leaks that have surfaced this year, particularly those concerning the judiciary or involving current and former judges.
Last year, a series of audio leaks surfaced on social media, featuring conversations involving prominent government and opposition figures such as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, PTI Chairman Imran Khan, and PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz. Nevertheless, the newly established commission is specifically mandated to probe the recent audio leaks and their potential impact on the judiciary.
In February, leaked audios allegedly involving a sitting judge of the Supreme Court triggered demands from the legal community for an investigation into their veracity. These leaked conversations purportedly involved the judge, influential politicians, and specific lawyers. They quickly spread across various social and mainstream media platforms, leading to widespread public and political concern.
The political landscape of the country was further shaken in April by another leaked conversation between two women. While the identities of the women could not be independently verified, the clip, widely circulated on social and mainstream media, drew significant reactions and calls for a thorough investigation. Additionally, two audio leaks linked to former Chief Justice Saqib Nisar emerged in the same month. One audio implicated his son, while the other audio’s authenticity, allegedly featuring a conversation between Saqib Nisar and PTI’s legal adviser Khawaja Tariq Rahim, was questioned.
According to the government’s notification, the circulation of controversial audio leaks on national electronic, print, and social media platforms has raised serious concerns about the independence, impartiality, and integrity of the Chief Justices and Judges of the superior courts. The leaks have eroded public trust and cast doubt on the judiciary’s ability to administer justice fairly.
The notification emphasized the importance of the judiciary as a pillar of the Constitution and expressed concern that compromising its independence undermines societal confidence. It stated, “When the independence of the judiciary is tarnished, society’s confidence is deeply affected, as it plays a pivotal role in upholding the rule of law and ensuring justice for all.”
The notification outlined the terms of reference for the commission, which include investigating any potential violations related to the administration of justice, the independence of the judiciary, the right to a fair trial, and the equality of citizens. It also called for identifying the source responsible for creating and disseminating the leaked audios if they are proven to be fake or fabricated. The commission is granted extensive powers under the Pakistani Commissions of the Inquiry Act 2017, and executive authorities at the federal and provincial levels are instructed to cooperate with the commission and comply with its directives.
The establishment of this judicial commission marks a crucial step towards addressing the concerns raised by the recent audio leaks and safeguarding the independence and integrity of the judiciary. The findings and recommendations of the commission are eagerly awaited, as they have the potential to shape the future course of action regarding the audio leaks and restore public trust in the judiciary.