Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) UK leader Shayan Ali and his mother Sadaf Mumtaz Malik led a violent attack in London on former Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Qazi Faez Isa’s car outside the Middle Temple after the former chief justice was leaving the legal venue.
PTI UK had called for the protest outside the Middle Temple against the Temple’s decision to call Mr Isa to the bench following his retirement.
When Qazi Faez Isa’s car – by the Pakistan High Commission—appeared from the Temple’s exit door at around 10:20 PM, PTI protestors led by Shayan Ali and his mother, Sadaf Mumtaz Malik attacked the car with fists, kicks and banging, supported by their group. Other who attacked the car are Aisha Ali Qureshi, Sadia Faheem, Faheem Khan, Noman Hussain, Ijaz Ali and others, according to diplomatic sources.
Shayan Ali said in the viral attack video: “Mr Qazi Faez Isa had lowered his head, but we caught him. His car hit a protester, and we will register a case against him and the police. One of the protestors was hit. This is a violation of human rights. We had promised to catch Justice Qazi Faez Isa and we delivered our promise.”
Aisha Qureshi said: “Qazi Faez was hiding his face, he’s so shameless. You disgraced Pakistan. Today we disgraced you.”
Sadia Faheem said: “He was hiding his face, which means he has done something wrong. Why was he hiding his face?”
PTI activists celebrated after attacking Qazi Isa and her wife in the car, lowering their heads. Shayan Ali added: “Qazi Faez Isa was hiding from us. We caught him. Look at this; he is the chief justice hiding from us. We will hunt people like him wherever they go. We promised to catch Nawaz Sharif and we did that."
"We caught Qazi Faez Isa. Anyone corrupt who comes to the UK and works against the rule of law, we will make their lives a hell. We have received justice today for Imran Khan. Our leader has been wronged, and we stood for him. This is our democratic right.”
On Wednesday, Pakistan High Commissioner to the UK said a case will be registered against those involved in the attack. “What happened to Qazi Faez is unfortunate. We will take action through diplomatic means against those involved in the attack. There are around a dozen hooligans who are involved in every act of hooliganism, and they are not representative of Pakistan. Those involved in loutish behaviour deserve condemnation.”
After the videos of the attack went viral, Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi strongly condemned the attack on former Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa and the Pakistani High Commission's vehicle in London.
The Interior Minister ordered NADRA to take immediate action to identify the attackers through video footage. He said that legal action would be against the assailants and an FIR would be registered in Pakistan for further action.
Mohsin Naqvi stated that the attackers' ID cards and passports will be blocked. He added that immediate action would be taken to revoke their citizenship. He stated that the case of revocation of their citizenship would be sent to the cabinet for approval.
A PTI UK spokesman told the media that Shayan Ali has nothing to do with PTI. “He is doing everything for self-publicity. He doesn’t follow PTI discipline. PTI protest ended at 7 p.m., and all officials went home. Shayan Ali stayed back for his own glory. He and colleagues attacked the car and its their private matter, PTI UK is not responsible. We are against Faez Isa but we are against violence too.
Shayan Ali and his groups tried to attack Judge Dilawar Humayum in Hull too and brought bad name to PTI and Imran Khan. They don’t care about Imran Khan; they care about their own TikTok, X, and Instagram accounts and following. This is against the teachings of Imran Khan. This is a conspiracy against PTI.”
The former chief justice became the first Pakistani judge to get elected as a bencher at the Middle Temple, a prestigious legal institution in the United Kingdom (UK). Isa, who retired as the top judge of Pakistan on October 25, arrived in London to attend the ceremony in his honour. He studied law at the Middle Temple, and his father, Qazi Isa, was also a graduate of the Middle Temple.
He had written to the administration of the Middle Temple stating that he could only attend the event after his retirement on October 25, prompting the ceremony to be rescheduled for October 29.
The Middle Temple is one of four historic and esteemed legal institutions known as the Inns of Court in London. These institutions provide training to law students and grant licenses for entry into the legal profession. The other three Inns of Court are Grey's Inn, Lincoln's Inn, and Inner Temple.
Founded in the 14th century, the Middle Temple has held a significant position at the heart of the British legal system for centuries.
