Additional attorney general resigns in protest after govt files reference against judges

May 28 complaint alleged that the judges did not declare their foreign properties in their wealth statements

ISLAMABAD: Additional Attorney General Zahid F Ebrahim on Wednesday resigned from office a day after the government filed a reference against alleged misconduct by two superior court judges for holding foreign properties either in their own names or through their spouses.

The complaint had been filed with the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) against senior judges of the Sindh High Court (SHC) and the Supreme Court (SC) under Article 209 of the Constitution on the pretext of undeclared foreign assets.

Son of renowned lawyer Fakhruddin G Ebrahim, the additional attorney general penned his resignation to President Arif Alvi, maintaining that action against judges appears to be a "reckless attempt to tar the reputation of independent individuals and is browbeating the judiciary of Pakistan".

Sources told the Express Tribune that the May 28 complaint filed through the president alleged that the judges did not declare their foreign properties in their wealth statements.

On the same day, an official in the Ministry of Law confirmed that the reference was prepared within the ministry. Services of a former apex court judge – who had taken oath under November 3, 2007, Provisional Constitution Order (PCO) had been hired to move the complaint.

Additional Attoreny General Zahid F Ebrahim's resignation. PHOTO: EXPRESS