What journalists think about the quashed reference against Justice Isa

JournalismPakistan.com | Published: 19 June 2020

The Supreme Court of Pakistan quashed the presidential reference against Justice Qazi Faez Isa, prompting varied reactions from journalists. Many viewed the decision as a major victory for judicial independence.
Summary

ISLAMABAD—As the Supreme Court on Friday quashed the presidential reference against Justice Qazi Faez Isa, journalists took to Twitter to criticize the PTI government.

In a tweet, former Dawn journalist Cyril Almeida asked: “Heads will roll?”

In a tweet Urdu, Mansoor Ali Khan of Express-News statistically said: “I also did not get good judiciary,” hitting at the argument that Prime Minister Imran Khan did not get a good team.

Talat Hussain, formerly of Geo News, said the judiciary made history on Friday. “Supreme Court makes history. Knocks out a farcial reference against Justice Faez Isa. Now comes the more interesting part. President Alvi, Prime Minister Imran, Ferogh Naseem, Shehzad Akbar, x AG Mansoor and Dogar who filed the application now stand together—in the dock, naked.”

Analyst Mosharraf Zaidi thought that the verdict against the government would make no difference to it, adding that the PTI government is used to such “slaps.”

Mubashir Zaidi of DawnNews TV, in a tweet in Urdu, thought that there was an earthquake in Aabpara, hinting the military establishment has been defeated.

Geo News presenter Hamid Mir termed it a victory for the independence of the judiciary. “Finally Supreme Court of Pakistan rejected reference against #JusticeQaziFaezIs a great victor for independent judiciary and a defeat of those who tried to humiliate a judge just because he wrote a bold decision in Faizabad Dharna case now #StopFightingwithjudiciary.”

The best future course for Farogh Nasim is not to return to the federal cabinet. It would also serve as a face saver for the PM.
— Muhammad Ziauddin (@MuhammadZiauddi) June 19, 2020

Veteran journalist Muhammad Ziauddin asked Farogh Nasim, who represented the government in the case, not to return to the federal cabinet. Nasim gave up his law ministry to represent the government. “The best future course for Farogh Nasim is not to return to the federal cabinet. It would also serve as a face saver for the PM.”

Fahd Hussain, a resident editor of Dawn, termed the verdict a huge defeat for the PTI government. “A massive defeat for the govt. May have consequences far and beyond.”