Access to information was basic right of all citizens: CJP Qazi Faez Isa

ISLAMABAD, Jan 20 (SABAH): Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Qazi Faez Isa on Saturday said the access to information was basic right of all citizens and highlighted the Article 19 of the Constitution which guarantees freedom of speech, expression and media. He said the law made it mandatory for the federal government’s organisations to provide the required information to the concerned citizens, adding that the Supreme Court too was bound to follow the Article 19-A – the right to information. He said that the truth shall set you free. He said that first action was taken on 32 complaints against the judges and now he has sent 100 complaints to judges seeking comments on the complaints against judges.

Addressing the conclusion session of the training workshop for higher judiciary court reporters in the federal capital, Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa said, “Accountability starts with [sharing of and access to] information”, adding that the Supreme Court was running on the financial resources collected from the people. “Every institution using the public money is your institution,” he said and added, “We have presented ourselves for accountability.”

The chief justice cited live telecast of Supreme Court proceedings as an example in this regard, as the move leads to openness and transparency, and asked the critics to express their opinion only after watching what is happening in the courtroom. “We should inform the people ourselves about what we are doing.”

Access to information leads to transparency, Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa noted and said no one would be able to level baseless allegations after the live telecast. The top court was also working on swift disposal of cases, he informed the audience about the steps being taken to improve the Supreme Court working, which also includes publishing the first ever quarterly report. Chief justice said that 850 cases were registered less then the cases were disposed of during his first three months tenure.

The chief justice mentioned that efforts were being made to improve the working of Supreme Judicial Council – the sole body invested with the authority to hold the judges accountable, which recently led to the resignations tendered by Justice Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi and Justice Ijazul Ahsan.

“Someone has advised me not to share the real feelings with journalists,” he quipped to the amusement of people attending the event.

The Chief Justice said a total of 5,305 cases were disposed of by the Supreme Court in three months between September 2023 and December 2023. A total of 4,466 cases were registered against 5,305 of the ones completed, the report mentioned.

The SC for the first time released its first quarterly report on its website, which revealed that the number of cases to be disposed of was higher than registered ones, he said. The CJP said that a female district and sessions judge was appointed as the SC registrar, also for the first time.

Qazi Faez Isa said that a fundamental rights monument is being established in the Supreme Court building which will be open and the public have free access to it.