Imran Khan seeks chief justice’s recusal from his cases

By Staff Reporter

ISLAMABAD: Former Prime Minister Imran Khan has petitioned the Supreme Court to exclude Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa from hearing cases related to him, his family, or associated parties, citing concerns over impartiality.

In an application submitted to a three-judge committee comprising the Chief Justice, Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, and Justice Muneeb Akhtar, Khan expressed doubts about Isa’s ability to remain impartial due to past conflicts.

Khan referenced a previous reference filed by his government against Isa regarding properties in Britain, which he expected would not influence the Chief Justice’s decisions after assuming office.

However, Khan stated that Isa’s conduct and demeanor while hearing relevant cases have eroded his confidence in the judicial process’s impartiality.

“The alleged conduct and demeanour of the CJP while hearing matters in which the applicant (Imran Khan), the PTI and members of SIC have an interest, have led him to believe that his lordship’s (CJP) presence in benches hearing matters in which the applicant, his spouse and family members were involved, will be inimical to the confidence of a large part of the people of Pakistan in the impartiality of the judicial process,” petition read.

The application asserts that Khan, his spouse, family, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, its members, and the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) will not receive fair treatment under Isa’s jurisdiction in current or future cases.