The continuing attack on the judiciary from various social media platforms following the Pakistan Supreme Court verdict in Justice Qazi Faez Isa case has surprised legal luminaries who say the tendency can harm the very institution of judiciary.

The apex court had through a majority judgment on April 26 overturned its June 19, 2020 order that required verification and subsequent findings by the tax authorities of three foreign properties in the name of the wife and children of Justice Faez Isa, Dawn reported.

Consequently, the entire exercise conducted by the Federal Board of Revenue was nullified since the fresh order that came on a set of review petitions had recalled and set aside the June 19 verdict.

The Jun 19 verdict quashed the presidential reference against Justice Isa, but authorized the FBR to evaluate and later impose a tax liability on Mrs. Isa for possessing three properties in the UK.

Soon after the SC verdict, some judges came under a barrage of attacks on social media.

Former Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) Presiden Hamid Khan said it seemed the April 26 judgment had been received with a pinch of salt by certain quarters which had launched a witch-hunt against some judges, especially Justice Isa for his Feb 6, 2019 verdict against the Faizabad sit-in by the opposition far-right Islamist party Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan.

Khan  regretted that the character-assassination campaign against the judges had been unleashed following the SC verdict.

A senior government official on condition of anonymity said the government needed to determine if the present fierce campaign was an orchestrated move being managed by a particular quarter or part of an informed discussion by some independent citizens.

He said freedom to free speech and expression was a constitutional right under Article 19 of the Constitution, but the right was subject to reasonable restrictions imposed by the law.

(SAM)