Dismissed for corruption: Bar association throws its weight behind sacked judges

Dismissed Judges claim those who worked for justice were not provided it themselves

BALAKOT/PESHAWAR: Days after the top court of the province sacked five lower court judges on charges of corruption and misconduct, the bar association has come to the defence of one of the judges implicated. It followed a news conference by the sacked judges who pleaded innocence and demanded a fair trial to defend themselves against the charges.

The Balakot Tehsil Bar Association, in a statement issued on Sunday, stated that they had passed a resolution backing additional district and sessions judge Aurangzeb Khan. They further called on the Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar to afford the sacked judges an opportunity to defend themselves against the charges levelled against them. In their resolution, the bar association stated that Aurangzeb had served in the area for the past three years during which he proved to be an honest and diligent adjudicator. Hence, he must at least be given a chance to defend himself against the charges levelled against him.

Aurangzeb, in a news conference held on Saturday, had rejected the charges levelled against him and had called for presenting any evidence against him in a fair trial.

Earlier on Saturday, the judges have claimed that they were not provided with a fair trial to adequately defend themselves.  “We have been told that the administrative committee has recommended that our image is not good, therefore, we should be removed from office,” stated Naeem Iqbal, one of the three district and sessions judges while addressing a news conference at the Peshawar Press Club on Saturday along with fellow sacked judges, Aurangzeb Khan and Shakilur Rahman,. “The officials have not conducted a proper inquiry against us. Not even an iota of evidence was presented. There are even no written complaints against us,” Iqbal said.

He claimed that they served the subordinate judiciary of the province for almost two decades during which no complaints were lodged against them. Talking about his performance, he claimed that even the district bar association was satisfied with their services but they cannot comprehend why they were being targeted by officials of the senior judiciary officials.

“We just need a fair trial. I am not claiming that I am the most honest or dishonest, but I need a proper trial where I can defend myself,” argued Aurangzeb Khan who found himself dumped out of the judicial system after serving for 16 years as a district and sessions judge in the province.

“In the personal hearing, I was not provided with a chance to clarify my side.”

The dismissed judges stated that they have filed a writ petition in the PHC when they were suspended last month and asked the authorities not to remove them until the court pronounces a verdict in the petition.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 20^th, 2018.