October 30, 2024
Former chief justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa faced a huge crowd of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protesters outside London's Middle Temple on Tuesday night.
Dozens of PTI supporters had gathered at Chancery Lane to stage a protest against Isa, who was attending a prestigious event held at the Middle Temple, after relinquishing charge as the country's top judge.
The PTI supporters, led by former prime minister Imran Khan's ex-special assistant Sayed Zulfi Bukhari and former member of National Assembly (MNA) Maleeka Bokhari, staged the demonstration to condemn The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple for elevating ex-CJP Isa as a Callee and hosting him at the dinner.
A significant police presence secured the venue’s entrance as numerous protestors holding placards shouted slogans denouncing the ex-CJP.
While addressing the crowd, Bukhari reiterated the PTI's claims that the former top judge had targeted the Imran Khan-founded party.
The demonstration was joined by British lawyer Barrister Mark McDonald, who also criticised the Middle Temple's invitation to the former chief justice, asserting it should not occur again.
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 licences for entry into the legal profession.
The former chief justice became the first Pakistani judge to get elected as a bencher and be invited to the Middle Temple, a prestigious legal institution in the United Kingdom (UK).
It may be noted that the Middle Temple is where Isa studied law. His father was also a graduate of the institute.