Bar-bench gulf: Bar wants quick resolution of references against judges

IHC judge pays surprise visit to GBM of lawyers; urges patience

ISLAMABAD: Tensions between the bench and the bar widened as a legion of Islamabad lawyers reiterated their call for the resignation of Islamabad High Court’s top judge.

The lawyers also rejected a proposal from a sitting IHC judge to stop demanding an ‘immediate’ resignation and wait for the decision of the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC).

The Islamabad High Court Bar Association (IHCBA) on Thursday passed a resolution demanding the resignation of IHC Chief Justice Mohammad Anwar Khan Kasi, as well as urging the SJC to decide on references pending against him for making ‘illegal’ appointments in IHC.

Meanwhile, IHC Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui made an unexpected appearance at the IHCBA General Body Meeting (GBM) and sought permission from the lawyers’ representatives to address the bar. The organisers allowed him to address the meeting, but only in his capacity of a former president of the Lahore High Court Bar Association, Rawalpindi Division.

Justice Siddiqui said that the complainant had done his job after filing a reference before the SJC against Justice Kasi. However, he suggested that instead of demanding an ‘immediate’ resignation, the lawyers should wait for the SJC’s final decision.

“You are setting a bad example,” Justice Siddiqui said, adding that it was Justice Kasi’s right to defend himself before the SJC and contest the allegations. After addressing the lawyers in the bar room inside the IHC premises, Justice Siddiqui left the venue, despite repeated requests from the lawyers to sit and hear what they had to say.

IHCBA Secretary General Mohammad Waqas Malik, who had moved references in the SJC against Justice Kasi following the September 26 SC judgment, tabled a resolution in the GBM demanding that the SJC decide the reference against Justice Kasi, as well as all references pending against other judges at the earliest.

Malik said the lawyers will not accept “dictation by any judge” and would plan their next action with an open mind.

The resolution urged Justice Kasi to follow the footsteps of Supreme Court’s Justice Iqbal Hameedur Rehman – a former IHC chief justice – who had tendered his resignation after the Supreme Court declared in its judgment that the appointments made during the tenures of Justice Rehman and Justice Kasi were illegal.

Though Justice Siddiqui left the venue immediately after his speech, the lawyers continued to debate his surprise appearance and address.

Some lawyers expressed reservations over the fact that a sitting judge addressed a GBM organised to discuss the conduct of judges.

Later, the GBM turned into a free-for-all after a group of lawyers used ‘colourful’ words and denied each other opportunities to speak. Chaotic scenes followed as the rival groups continued using non-dictionary words and scuffled with each other.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 11^th, 2016.