Maiden Meeting
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Judicial Council took up complaints against judges in its maiden meeting on Friday under the leadership of Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa.
The council will hear complaints against judges of the superior courts, including Justice Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi. Justice Naqvi is facing misconduct complaint involving his assets beyond means.
This meeting marks the first meeting of the SJC under CJP Isa’s leadership.
The SJC, chaired by CJP Isa, includes two senior judges from the apex court, Justice Tariq Masood and Justice Ijaz Ul Ahsan.
This constitutional forum holds the authority to investigate and potentially remove judges from superior courts in light of various allegations.
In addition to Justice Naqvi, complaints have been lodged against other superior court judges, and the SJC is likely to address the allegations against Justice Naqvi during the forthcoming meeting.
Justice Tariq Masood, a senior judge of the Supreme Court and an SJC member, has already submitted his legal opinion on the misconduct complaints filed against Justice Naqvi in September of this year.
The misconduct complaints against Justice Naqvi first surfaced during the tenure of former Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial. Justice (retired) Bandial had referred the matter to Justice Tariq Masood for examination and legal evaluation.
Initially, a misconduct complaint against Justice Naqvi was submitted to the SJC by Lahore-based lawyer Muhammad Dawood.
Subsequently, the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) also announced its intention to file a complaint against the senior judge.
PBC Vice Chairman Haroon Rashid filed a misconduct complaint against Justice Naqvi following the emergence of audio recordings purportedly discussing the case’s assignment to a specific bench or judge with former Punjab Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi.
The SJC, serving as a body of accountability for judges of superior courts and high-ranking government officials, comprises five members, including the Chief Justice of Pakistan, the two most senior judges of the Supreme Court, and the two most senior chief justices of high courts.
In April, senior Supreme Court judges Justice Isa and Justice Masood had urged then-CJP Bandial to convene an SJC meeting for the examination of misconduct complaints against Justice Naqvi.
In a joint letter addressed to all SJC members, they expressed their desire to address these complaints promptly to determine their validity and either clear the respondent judge’s name or submit a report in accordance with the Constitution.
