Justice Shah unfazed by ‘reference’ talk

ISLAMABAD: Senior puisne judge of the Supreme Court Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah said on Friday that work and court judgments available on the apex court’s website are an ample response to those questioning the work of judges. The senior judge questioned why he should fear references when he has not done anything wrong. “Let the references come then it will be seen as Allah is the Protector,” Justice Shah said during an informal chat with reporters after the oath-taking ceremony of new judges to the Supreme Court.

When a journalist asked, it was learnt that he was not working, Justice Mansoor Ali Shah replied that one should visit the website of the Supreme Court where they could find out who has a high disposal rate.

“One can also find the record of judgments, pronounced by each judge which have been published in legal books”, Justice Mansoor Ali Shah said.

It is pertinent to mention here that Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Yahya Afridi had told journalists that he has nominated Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb, judge of Islamabad High Court, as acting judge of Supreme Court for his expertise in corporate and tax matters.

The chief justice had said that as other judges who were earlier hearing such nature of cases were now not hearing that was why he wanted to elevate Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb to the Supreme Court as acting judge.

Similarly, during the informal conversation, a journalist also diverted the attention of Justice Shah towards a government adviser’s statement that references are likely to be filed against two judges of the Supreme Court for “misconduct”.

Justice Mansoor Ali Shah replied that he is not afraid of any reference and questioned as to why he should be since he has done nothing wrong. “Let the references come and they will see then as Allah is the Protector”, Justice Mansoor Ali Shah said.

The senior judge further said that he has no personal animosity or conflict with anyone, adding that there is cordial relationship amongst judges, saying he often meets and shares tea together. “But we have our own principled stand,” Justice Shah said, but questioned if an elephant is in the room and no one sees it, then what can be said of it.