President Dr Arif Alvi on Thursday wrote a letter to Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial, requesting him to form a judicial commission to thoroughly probe the regime change conspiracy, which former prime minister Imran Khan claims was behind his removal from the top office.
In his letter, the president said the commission would help avert the political and economic crisis in the country. Underlining the importance of constituting the commission, the president said a serious political crisis is looming in the country and major polarization is taking place in politics as well as among the people of Pakistan in the wake of recent events.
He emphasised that it is the collective duty of all institutions to make utmost efforts to avert damaging consequences to the country and prevent further deterioration. He regretted the fact that random comments are being quoted out of context, misunderstandings are increasing, opportunities are being lost, and with the economy also in crisis, the situation on the ground is approaching a political powder keg that might ignite at any time.
The president pointed out that in the past, the Supreme Court had taken initiatives to constitute judicial commissions in matters of national security, integrity, sovereignty and public interest. “A judicial commission, headed by [former] chief justice Nasir ul Mulk and two judges of the top court, inquired into rigging allegations in 2013 elections. Similarly, judicial commissions were also formed to investigate the Memogate matter, and moreover, a judicial commission is also currently functional for missing persons, that is headed by a sitting judge”, he observed.
He cited press reports as saying that the prime minister had also expressed his desire for a commission. President Alvi said the commission should investigate the matter based not only on technicalities of law but in the real spirit of justice.
“Who knows better than your Honour that to prove, that a ‘smoking gun’ has been identified in the hand of a conspirator, or to find a possible money trail, or to identify meetings where people have been motivated towards cover action, or where people have been bought and sold, could be a vigorous exercise”, he added.
The president noted that he is of the strong opinion that “even recorded circumstantial evidence” can lead to some conclusions based not on technicalities of law but in the real spirit of justice.
