The Supreme Court is set to hear a suo motu notice against independent Senator Faisal Vawda on Friday, following his verbal attack on Islamabad High Court (IHC) judges.
A three-member bench, led by Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa and including Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Justice Irfan Saadat Khan, will preside over the case.
The Supreme Court intervened after Vawda criticized the IHC judges during a press conference on Wednesday. He condemned their letter alleging interference by intelligence agencies in judicial matters, asserting that the targeting of institutions must cease. Vawda, formerly associated with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, challenged the judges to provide evidence of such meddling, promising support if such evidence were produced.
Vawda emphasized the recurring mention of intelligence agencies’ names and called for solid proof, pledging his support against any proven interference. He also advocated for a nationwide social media ban and the implementation of uniform social media regulations.
This press conference followed Vawda’s request to the IHC registrar, seeking the disclosure of correspondence between then-IHC chief justice Athar Minallah and Justice Babar Sattar regarding Sattar’s green card. Vawda’s letter referenced a social media campaign accusing Justice Sattar of holding US nationality and having business interests in a private school in Pakistan.
In response, the IHC’s public relations officer clarified that Justice Sattar has always held only Pakistani nationality. He studied law at Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar and completed further education at Harvard Law School. After working with a law firm in New York and obtaining a US Permanent Resident Card due to his exceptional abilities, he returned to Pakistan in 2005 and has resided there since.
The Supreme Court’s suo motu notice followed the IHC’s response to Vawda’s letter. The IHC clarified that the information requested from lawyers considered for judicial appointments does not include details about residency or citizenship in countries other than Pakistan. The IHC registrar, on behalf of IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq, stated that such residency or citizenship is not a disqualification for judges under Pakistan’s Constitution.
