MISLEADING: SC didn’t order search exemptions for spouses of judges

The news from online news outlet South Asia Index states that that Pakistani Supreme Court has issued order that will allow judges, their families to board flights without getting checked by immigration staff.

This is incorrect and misleading. In the past we had written about the same handle and how it tended to tweet only in favour of a particular political party. As for this tweet, the exemption was given by the Aviation Ministry and not based on a Supreme Court order.

The Ministry of Aviation has exempted the serving judges and their spouses from body search at all the airports in Pakistan on the directives of Supreme Court.

An order in this regard has been issued by the Airport Security Force (ASF) director general on the orders of aviation secretary. As per the ASF order, all serving judges and their families will not be subjected to screening at airports throughout Pakistan.

In, the Supreme Court issued a clarification that Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa and his wife did not request an exemption from airport searches.

A letter from the Supreme Court’s PRO revealed that the top judge Justice Isa opted not to utilise VIP lounge and luxury services at the airport.

CJP Isa or his wife did not seek exemption from being searched at airport and asked the ministry of aviation to full disclose facts on the matter. It further mentioned that his wife went into security cubicle and searched by lady officer.

The PRO of top court mentioned that government was not concerned about the breach of security which led to the letter being revealed at an interesting time.

The notification from aviation ministry made headlines soon after Chief Justice of Pakistan left with his wife for a winter vacation.