Retirement
Accountability Court Judge Muhammad Bashir, who is scheduled to retire on March 14, 2024, has applied for sick leave until the end of his tenure, citing health reasons. According to sources, Judge Bashir submitted a letter to both the Islamabad High Court and the Ministry of Law and Justice requesting leave from January 24 to March 14.
In the letter, the judge explained that due to his physical condition, he is unable to carry out his duties and, therefore, sought leave until his retirement. The request for sick leave until retirement comes amid Judge Bashir’s long-standing service, during which he presided over high-profile cases.
Judge Muhammad Bashir notably sentenced former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz, and her husband Captain Safdar in multiple cases, including the Al-Azizia Steel Mills case. Additionally, he sentenced Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi in the Toshakhana case.
The judge also heard the Toshakhana case involving former President Asif Ali Zardari, Nawaz Sharif, and Yusuf Raza Gilani. Furthermore, he presided over the LNG reference against former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Raja Pervaiz Ashraf in the Sahiwal Rental Power Reference.
Despite the ongoing cases and responsibilities, Judge Muhammad Bashir has expressed his inability to perform his duties due to health issues. The request for sick leave until retirement raises questions about the handling of pending cases and the potential impact on the legal proceedings in the accountability court. The judge’s plea for extended leave will likely be reviewed by the relevant authorities, taking into consideration the circumstances presented in his letter.
