SJC to hear case against another IHC judge

Judge facing proceedings over alleged illegal appointments

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) will take up on Monday (tomorrow) a matter of misconduct against another Islamabad High Court judge.

A five-judge SJC led by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar has summoned a meeting to consider a case of misconduct against another IHC judge, who is retiring on November 17.

It is learnt that both sides have already submitted their evidences. The said judge is facing proceedings of misconduct due to alleged illegal appointments in the Islamabad High Court.

It is learnt that proceedings in his matter have entered the last stage wherein final arguments will be given before the SJC. The council had already asked him to submit written arguments.

Meanwhile, the SJC has already reserved its opinion that whether it should proceed further or send a final opinion in the matter related to IHC judge Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui. After deliberations, the judge will decide their future course of action.

Presently, three superior courts judges’ cases of misconduct are being reported. Of them, two are of IHC and one is a Lahore High Court judge, whose name was also revealed in the Panamagate case.

The LHC judge filed a review petition against the Supreme Court for inclusion of an IHC judge as SJC member who himself was facing proceedings of misconduct. Earlier, his objection on IHC judge was rejected by SJC and SC. Since 1971, no superior court judge has been removed.