No exemption sought: Supreme court clarifies airport body search controversy

ISLAMABAD – The Supreme Court of Pakistan has addressed the controversy regarding the body search of serving judges and their spouses at airports across the country.

The public relations officer of the top court issued a clarification on Monday and stated that neither the body search rule for the families of judges at airports was promulgated by the apex court nor any exemption was sought in this regard.

‘The Registrar had simply pointed out an anomaly, which was that the spouses of retired Supreme Court Judges were exempt from body search but those of serving Judges were not,’ the letter read.

The official clarified that the body search exemption cards for spouses of the judges have not been received while the chief justice also declined to use VIP lounge at the Islamabad airport while departing for Turkey.

The official also expressed surprise at the surfacing of the letter by the Aviation Division 66 days after it was written, coincidentally when the top judge departed from the country.

‘In the interest of full disclosure kindly also disclose the Registrar of the Supreme Court’s letter of 21st September 2023 to correct the misconceptions,’ it said.

‘Your letter while resolving the anomaly does not offer an explanation. And, neither the ASF nor the Government of Pakistan is concerned about the security breach,’ it read.

The official also claimed that while departing from Pakistan on 16th December 2023, Mrs Qazi Faez Isa herself went into the cubicle of the ASF and was searched by a lady officer which can be confirmed through the cameras installed at the airport.

The explanation came a day after a letter by the Aviation Division surfaced which exempted the serving judges, chief justice and their spouses from body searches at all airports across the country.