Opposition Leader Umar Ayub Meets Chief Justice Over Alleged Manipulation of PTI Cases

In a recent meeting with Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Yahya Afridi, Opposition Leader Umar Ayub, along with other PTI leaders, expressed concerns regarding the deliberate scheduling of PTI leadership’s court hearings at different locations at the same time. According to Ayub, this is done to prevent the leadership from appearing in court, thereby hindering their ability to defend themselves in the ongoing cases.

The meeting, which lasted for two hours, was held at the Supreme Court, where the Chief Justice briefed the PTI delegation about the proposed meeting of the National Judicial Policy Making Committee. The Chief Justice also informed the delegation that feedback had been received from across the country, including from bar councils, the public, and district judiciary, and that feedback from high courts’ registrars and provincial judicial academies was expected soon.

During the meeting, Ayub highlighted several concerns, including the failure of jail authorities to implement court orders and the filing of terrorism-related cases against PTI lawyers. He also expressed concerns over the harassment of lawyers who were representing PTI leadership and workers. Ayub’s comments were included in the Supreme Court’s official statement following the meeting.

The Chief Justice reassured the delegation that legal reform was already underway, and the feedback from various legal bodies was being taken into account. Additionally, he emphasized the need for judicial reforms, with PTI acknowledging the importance of addressing backlog cases in district courts for providing relief to the public.

Ayub also pointed out that the country’s economic stability is directly dependent on the rule of law and emphasized that the economy could only recover if the judiciary played an active role in holding the executive accountable. During the discussion on criminal justice and civil case resolutions, Barrister Ali Zafar offered valuable suggestions to improve the system and indicated that more recommendations would be provided over time.

The meeting between the opposition delegation and the Chief Justice was part of a broader consultation aimed at reforming the judicial system. The PTI delegation included key figures such as Umar Ayub, Shibli Faraz, Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, Barrister Ali Zafar, Barrister Salman Akram Raja, Latif Khosa, and Dr. Babar Awan. Registrar Mohammad Saleem Khan and Secretary of the Law and Justice Commission Tanzeela Sabaat assisted the Chief Justice during the session.