Disputes his assertions, pointing out that “we are paid to work six days, not four and a half.”
ISALABAD – Reminding Justice Ijazul Ahsan that there are six days in a workweek, Chief Justice Faez Isa conveyed his dissatisfaction with the accusations the latter made concerning the committee’s operations as established by the Supreme Practice and Procedure Act, 2023.
You claim that the constitution of benches was decided without consulting you. In a three-page response to the chief justice, the chief justice stated, “My door is always open to my colleagues. I am also available on telecom and via cell phone. However, it surprised me that you neither came to talk to me nor reached out to me by intercom or by cell phone to express your concerns.”
The letter also states, “I called you on the intercom as soon as I received your letter, but I did not get an answer.” After that, I asked one of my employees to get in touch with your office, and I found out that you had departed for Lahore early on Friday afternoon and had not yet finished the workday. Instead of four and a half days, we are paid to work six days.
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According to Chief Justice Isa, a judge’s primary duty is to attend to judicial business. For this reason, he originally planned for the committee to meet on Friday afternoon, after all of the orders that had been passed during the day had been written down, verified, and signed.
The chief justice did, however, grant Justice Ahsan’s requests, and the committee meetings were moved to Thursdays, “which I now consider may have been a mistake.”
The letter further states that special benches are not created for specific cases or to include or exclude judges, and that the constitution of benches “also demonstrates that every judge is treated equally and with respect.”
“The facts and the record contradict your accusations. However, the Chief Justice stated, “If you have any suggestions for the reconstitution of benches, please share them with me.” He also mentioned that he would call a committee meeting, which Justice Ahsan could join in person at the Supreme Court in Islamabad, while Justice Sardar Tariq Masood could participate virtually from Lahore.
