ISLAMABAD, Pakistan – On Tuesday, the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) and Provincial Bar Councils announced that they would file references in the Supreme Judicial Council against Supreme Court justice Mazahir Ali Akbar Naqvi in connection with an alleged audio leak allegedly featuring him and former Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaz Elahi discussing Muhammad Khan Bhatti’s case.
Addressing to the media, PBC Executive Committee Chairman Hasan Raza Pasha said that Judge Mazahir breached his oath and harmed the judiciary’s reputation, adding that six misconduct referrals will be made against him. He also urged that the petition against Judge Qazi Faez Isa be withdrawn by the present administration.
He went on to explain that a similar situation occurred in 1997, and that Judge Rashid Aziz and Justice Abdul Qayyum Malik resigned immediately, and that they expect Justice Mazahir would do the same following the tape release.
On February 16, former Punjab CEO Elahi cleared the air on a rumoured audio leak, claiming that the tape was misread.
Mr Elahi took to Twitter to attack Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah, claiming, “The mastermind behind the Model Town murders has begun to talk against me in a scared condition.”
He went on to say that misunderstanding was done during negotiations concerning Muhammad Khan Bhatti’s detention by filming the conversation with the lawyer.
Mr Elahi continued to fire broadsides at Mr Sanaullah, saying, “With the blessings of Allah Almighty, Sanaullah is being exposed.”
“The PML-N is highly active in campaigning against the judiciary,” he said of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).
Mr. Elahi said, “We have always admired the judges. At now, the public’s attention is focused on the court.”
Mr Elahi accused the administration of political vengeance, saying, “The government is leaving no stone unturned to exact retribution on political opponents.”
He stated that the administration used the fake cases to imprison political opponents.