Justice Jamal Mandukhel of the Supreme Court has highlighted the positive outcomes from recent discussions aimed at resolving political tensions.
On June 6, during the hearing of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) amendments case, the Supreme Court advised Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan to engage in dialogue with other political leaders to address the nation’s pressing issues.
Justice Mandukhel emphasized the urgency of political dialogue, stating, “Imran Khan, your words are concerning. The situation is dangerous, so sit down and solve it with fellow politicians. When there is a fire, you don’t see whether it is pure or impure—first put out the fire.”
Justice Athar Minallah also remarked on the importance of Imran Khan’s leadership, saying, “Unfortunately, you are in jail, but people have hopes from you.” In response, Imran Khan expressed his reliance on the judiciary, stating, “If I speak from the heart, we are all looking at you.”
Following these remarks, PTI Chairman Barrister Gauhar Ali Khan informed the media that Imran Khan has shown a willingness to engage in talks with all political parties and has directed the formation of a negotiation committee.
At the swearing-in ceremony of the Supreme Court Press Association in Islamabad, Justice Mandukhel reiterated that the suggestions we put forward to the PTI founding chairman have led to positive developments, suggesting a hopeful path forward for resolving Pakistan's political and economic challenges.
Imran Khan’s audio leak issue
On the other hand, Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa has unequivocally stated that the audio allegedly featuring PTI founder has not been leaked from the Supreme Court.
He assured that he had thoroughly investigated the matter with the court staff.
Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa also discussed the Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto revision case, stating that comments on it can be made after the verdict. He highlighted the extensive nature of judgments, mentioning that while the Lahore High Court's judgment is on 627 paragraphs, the Supreme Court's majority judgment consists of 963 paragraphs.
During the ceremony, Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa also shed light on the extensive nature of judicial reporting, acknowledging its challenging nature.
He remarked on the significant differences between the Lahore High Court’s judgment, consisting of 627 paragraphs, and the Supreme Court’s majority judgment, encompassing 963 paragraphs. However, he admitted to not having reviewed the judgment personally.
The Chief Justice emphasized the importance of responsible judicial reporting, highlighting the challenges of accurately conveying complex legal matters. He encouraged journalists to conduct thorough research before reporting.
Justice Athar Minullah questioned the fuss over the alleged leak, stating that the hearing was open and therefore, there was nothing wrong with the audio being leaked.
