CJP Qazi Faez Isa hints at trying PTI’s Qasim Suri for treason

Terming the ruling given by PTI leader and former National Assembly (NA) deputy speaker Qasim Suri against the no-confidence motion moved by the then opposition, Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Qazi Faez Isa said on Tuesday that since Suri by doing so had violated the constitution, why he should not be tried for treason, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

The CJP made these remarks during the hearing of an appeal filed by the PTI leader against the rejection of his nomination papers by an appellate election tribunal.

Naeem Bukhari, counsel for Suri, on the occasion, argued that time had lapsed in the case. “In my opinion, the issue of my client’s disqualification and re-election in his constituency is now dead,” he added.

Strongly disagreeing with Bukhari’s viewpoint, Justice Isa said how the time had passed. “We will hold him accountable for that,” he declared.  

Petitioner Lashkari Raisani’s lawyer Riaz Ahmad said that after the Supreme Court’s (SC) verdict, Suri could not remain the deputy speaker.

The chief justice then asked Bukhari whether he agreed that Suri’s act of clinging to the post was unconstitutional. “If you agree, then the decision given by the Balochistan High Court (BHC) in the case will stay.”

Bukhari told the apex court that the election tribunal had stated this categorically that his client was not involved in any corrupt practice.

Justice Isa remarked that a high court had ordered reelection in NA-265. “The truth of the matter is that the PTI leader was not an elected member of the National Assembly since December 27, 2019.”

But Bukhari reminded the CJP that the Supreme Court in 2019 had granted a ‘stay’ in the case.

Expressing his indignation, the chief justice said that if the apex court had erred in the past, the present bench would rectify it.

The CJP then asked as to when Suri had given his resignation. “It was on April 16, 2022,” Bukhari replied.

It meant, Justice Isa added, that when he had dissolved the assembly as the deputy speaker, he was still on the ‘stay’ granted by the court.

“Suri had violated the constitution by dissolving the assembly,” he remarked.

The CJP went on to say that the SC’s five-member bench in its verdict had recommended action against Suri under Article 6 of the constitution.

Summoning the PTI leader on the next hearing, the CJP also issued a notice to the registrar for not fixing the case for the hearing, and adjourned the hearing for one month.

Reporter: Amanat Gishkori