As the government continued to build its narrative on judicial bias of the top court in high-profile cases, Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial Tuesday responded to criticism regarding his use of the phrase “good to see you” for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on his latest appearance before the Supreme Court.
The top judge explained that he greets everyone with these words as a gesture of respect and courtesy, emphasizing their importance in the judicial process.
Addressing the criticism during a civil case hearing, Chief Justice Bandial engaged in an interaction with lawyer Asghar Sabzwari. Initiating the exchange, he stated, “I am pleased to see you as you have appeared in my court after a considerable period.”
The CJP affirmed that he uses the phrase “good to see you” with everyone, acknowledging that he has faced substantial criticism for his choice of words. He underscored the principle of showing respect to all individuals, highlighting the necessity of respect and courtesy in every interaction.
The controversy surrounding the CJP’s greeting arose after his good words exchange with former Prime Minister Imran Khan during the latter’s appearance before the apex court on May 11. On that occasion, the court declared Imran’s arrest in the Al Qadir Trust case, which occurred at the Islamabad High Court premises, as “invalid and unlawful.”
This prompted allegations from the government that the Supreme Court’s benevolence was limited to Imran Khan alone, leading to widespread criticism, including from PML-N supreme leader Nawaz Sharif.
Following the CJP’s response, PML-N’s Maryam Nawaz took to Twitter, posing a series of questions directed at the chief justice.
She inquired about his treatment of individuals who have engaged in large-scale financial crimes, questioning whether he greets them with the same phrase.
Maryam also queried if the court arranges luxury vehicles for their departure, shifts them from jail to rest houses, grants bail to those on remand, or advises them to call multiple family members before going to sleep.
As the news of the CJP’s remarks spread, the debate regarding the role of respect and impartiality in the judicial system intensified. The issue has raised concerns about the perception of favoritism and the need for consistent treatment of individuals across all cases.
