Govt should investigate US cypher issue: SC judge

Asking whether courts will now deal with the country’s foreign affairs, Supreme Court (SC) Judge Justice Qazi Faez Isa on Wednesday rejected all three appeals filed against objections of the Registrar’s Office on the circulars for the investigation into the US cypher, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.   

Reading out the verdict after an in-chamber hearing, Justice Isa remarked that the judiciary could not interfere in the affairs of the executive. “And this case has nothing to do with the basic human rights either,” he stated categorically. 

The judge went on to say that if a person was not capable of becoming the country’s prime minister, then he should let somebody else to take over and run the affairs. 

Justice Isa further said if the government wanted it could make such cyphers public. “But if somebody else does so, it would constitute a violation of the Secret Act,” he added.   

He said that if the prime minister wished, he could even sever the country’s ties with the entire world.

Then he asked, who was the country’s prime minister when the cypher was received?  

GM Chaudhry, counsel for the petitioners, replied that it was PTI Chairman Imran Khan. “Imran had even waved the cypher before a public gathering,” he responded.

Justice Isa then asked whether Imran ordered an inquiry into the letter at that time. “Since he had all the authority to order such a probe,” he remarked, adding that if Imran had not done so then why the courts should interfere in this matter. 

GM Chaudhry said that the investigation into cypher was also related to the basic human rights. “Tell me in what way the letter affected our daily lives,” the judge asked, and added, “If Imran had wanted, he could have formed a commission to investigate the cypher.” 

“Do you want that all letters from abroad should first reach the Supreme Court before they reach the Foreign Office?” Justice Isa questioned.

Reporter Imanat Gishkori