SJC issues show cause notice to SHC judge

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) issued a show cause notice to a Sindh High Court judge over a misconduct complaint filed against him.

Sources told The Express Tribune that the SHC judge was asked to appear in person on March 7 regarding the complaint. However, the judge failed to defend himself during the previous proceedings; therefore, the SJC issued him a show cause notice last week.

Under the SJC’s rules, the accused judge is bound to submit a written reply over the show cause notice within 15 days.



Meanwhile, sources also said that the council will take up the cases of two Islamabad High Court judges on March 27. They added that both the judges have already submitted a written reply over the show cause notices.

Likewise, the council on March 7 also sought a written reply from the Attorney General for Pakistan in matters related to the complaint of misconduct against two judges.

Soon after taking charge as chairman SJC, Chief Justice of Pakistan Saqib Nisar activated the council. So far, six judges have been summoned by the SJC in the last three months.

This year, the council has initiated misconduct proceedings against three judges of the Lahore High Court, two IHC and one SHC. One LHC judge has already tendered his resignation to avoid the council’s proceedings against him.



Earlier, one IHC and one LHC judge were represented by senior counsel Makhdoom Ali Khan. However, Makhdoom recused to plead cases of both the judges.

It is learnt that senior lawyer Khawaja Haris will now represent the two LHC judges when the council will take up their cases next month.

Interestingly, one senior law officer has also recused himself from acting as the prosecutor in the case of one IHC’s judge case. The same IHC’s judge has also been requesting the SJC to conduct an open trial of his case.