Ex-CJP Isa under attack at UK’s Middle Temple

LONDON: Former CJP Qazi Faez Isa’s car was stopped and banged upon by a group of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protesters outside the Middle Temple on Tuesday night after the former chief justice was leaving the venue after becoming the Master Bencher, following being called to the Bench.

The PTI UK had called for the protest – organised by Sahibzada Jahangir, Jahanzeb Khan, Zulfi Bukhari and Azhar Mashwani – outside the Middle Temple against the Temple’s decision to call Isa to the Bench following his retirement. Close to 80 people attended the protest but that event ended peacefully. Around 10 activists stayed on who later on tried to stop Isa’s car, banged on it, and tried to open the doors to get access to Isa and his wife Sarina, three hours after the main protest had ended.

The incident happened after the former CJP Isa was called to the Bench where the ceremony was held for the benchers and members of the Inn to call elected members to the Bench. The Callees included Isa, Professor Adrian Briggs, Isabel Hitching KC and Nikki Singla KC. They were called to the Bench and asked to take their place at the high table.

As Qazi Faez Isa’s car – carrying the Pakistan High Commission diplomatic number plate – appeared from the Temple’s exit door at around 10:20 pm, PTI protesters led by Shayan Ali made their way to the car, tried to stop it and shouted slogans against the former chief justice. The car stopped briefly as it was stopped from the front by two protesters who stepped aside after seeing a police vehicle behind. The protestors then chased the car – after banging its rear left side where Isa and wife were seated – for about two minutes till it had left the area, escorted by the police van. “Shame on you Qazi,” shouted Shayan Ali and others as they chased the car. “Release Imran Khan,” he said, accompanied by activists Aisha Qureshi and Sadia Faheem. Shayan Ali said: “Qazi Faez Isa had lowered his head but we caught him. His car hit a protester and we will register a case against him and the police. One of the protesters was hit. This is a violation of human rights. We had promised to catch Justice Qazi Faez Isa and we delivered our promise.”

Aisha Qureshi said: “Qazi Faez was hiding his face, he’s so shameless. You disgraced Pakistan. Today we disgraced you.” Sadia Faheem said: “He was hiding his face which means he has done something wrong. Why was he hiding his face.” Shayan Ali added: “Qazi Faez Isa was hiding from us. We caught him. Look at this, he is the chief justice hiding from us. We will hunt people like him wherever they go. We promised to catch Nawaz Sharif and we did that. We caught Qazi Faez Isa. Anyone corrupt who comes to the UK and works against the rule of law, we will make their lives a hell. We have received justice today for Imran Khan. Our leader has been wronged and we stood for him. This is our democratic right.”

A significant police presence secured the Middle Temple entrance as numerous protesters holding placards shouted slogans denouncing the ex-CJP. While addressing the crowd, Zulfi Bukhari reiterated the PTI’s claims that the former top judge had targeted the Imran Khan-founded party. The demonstration was joined by British lawyer Barrister Mark McDonald, who also criticised the Middle Temple’s invitation to the former chief justice, asserting it should not occur again.

On Wednesday, Pakistan High Commissioner to the UK said a case will be registered against those involved in the attack. “What happened to Qazi Faez is unfortunate. We will take action through diplomatic means against those involved in the attack. There are around a dozen hooligans who are involved in every act of hooliganism and they are not representative of Pakistan. Those involved in loutish behaviour deserve condemnation.”

After the videos of the attack went viral, Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi strongly condemned the attack on Qazi Faez Isa and the Pakistani High Commission’s vehicle in London. The interior minister ordered NADRA to take immediate action to identify the attackers through video footage. He said that legal action would be taken against the assailants and an FIR would be registered in Pakistan for further action. Mohsin Naqvi said that the attackers’ ID cards and passports will be blocked. He added that immediate action would be taken to revoke their citizenship. He stated that the case of revocation of their citizenship would be sent to the cabinet for approval. He emphasized that no one will be allowed to carry out such attacks. He further said that the vehicle of Pakistani High Commission has been attacked and we cannot remain silent on this incident. He also questioned why security was not provided to Qazi Faez Isa although he was receiving threats.

Speaking to Geo News, Shayan Ali said the UK’s Human Rights Act (HRA) gives the right to protest and the right to assembly to the people living in this country. “I don’t condone any act of violence by anyone. The HRA is clear in the rights it gives for peaceful protest and legal opposition. Right to assembly and right to protest is enshrined in the UK legal system. There is no law in England that can be used against us for a peaceful protest. I have seen the statement made by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi. This would be transnational repression to silence the govt criticism if any action is taken.”

At the Middle Temple event, Isa gave a short speech to the benchers and members, the Middle Temple confirmed. The former chief justice became one of the few Pakistani judges to get elected as a bencher at the Middle Temple, a prestigious legal institution in the United Kingdom (UK). Isa, who retired as the top judge of Pakistan on October 25, arrived in London to attend the ceremony in his honour. He studied law at the Middle Temple and his father, Qazi Isa, was also a graduate of the Middle Temple. He had written to the administration of the Middle Temple stating that he could only attend the event after his retirement on October 25, prompting the ceremony to be rescheduled for October 29.

The Middle Temple is one of four historic and esteemed legal institutions known as the Inns of Court in London. These institutions provide training to law students and grant licences for entry into the legal profession. The other three Inns of Court are Gray’s Inn, Lincoln’s Inn and Inner Temple. Founded in the 14th century, the Middle Temple has held a significant position at the heart of the British legal system for centuries.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Wednesday gave the title of ‘Viceroy’ to the Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi for his statement of blocking the identity cards of Pakistanis found protesting in front of the former Chief Justice’s car in London.

In reaction to the minister’s statement, PTI information secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram described the minister’s reference to overseas Pakistanis as absurd and said that Mohsin Naqvi’s statement is ridiculous to the point of absurdity and reflects the mentality of mandate-thief arrangement. He said in his statement that every other day, they tell the world that they are not only uneducated but also stupid and ignorant. Before revoking the citizenship of those protesting against Qazi Faez Isa, the self-proclaimed ‘Viceroy’ should learn the law from an educated lawyer.

Akram said that the senseless series of issuing arbitrary decrees by putting their feet on the neck of the Constitution and the law has severely damaged the democratic and constitutional identity of Pakistan in the world. The PTI spokesman said Naqvi should get down from the imaginary seat of ‘gunda raj’ and instead of showing his ignorant glory to the world, try to act with a little distinction and respect for the law. “If it has happened, give the court a chance to decide instead of becoming a judge yourself,” he remarked.