Only six complaints out of 426 pending against superior court judges: SJC

Remaining six include two presidential references filed against Justice Isa and SHC judge KK Agha

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) said on Monday that only six complaints out of 426 were currently pending against the superior court judges.

"Presently only about half a dozen other informations/complaints are pending before Council & while being actively attended to they are passing through different stages of requisite process" said the SJC in a verdict issued on the complaint against apex court Judge Qazi Faez Esa.

The remaining six include the two presidential references filed against Supreme Court judge Justice Qazi Faez Isa and Sindh High Court Judge KK Agha.

SJC for the first time on April 15 revealed that the total number of complaints filed against superior judges were 426 of which 398 had been disposed of and only 28 cases were currently pending.

The disclosure came from the Supreme Court public relations officer after members of the legal fraternity erroneously said that around 350 references were pending in the SJC.

“Out of the 426 references, 398 cases were processed as per the Supreme Judicial Council Procedure of Enquiry 2005.All the cases are in process and shall be disposed of due in course of time”, the apex court statement added.

Earlier, executive member of the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) Raheel Kamran Shiekh had approached the SC seeking complete disclosure of complaints and references filed against judges. However, the top court had turned down his plea.

Sheikh had demanded that process of the judicial accountability must be made transparent and across the board to inspire public confidence and ensure independence of the judiciary.

Therefore, the demands made by the apex bar for disclosures and against selective accountability must be fulfilled before we can fully trust the process, he added.

It is to be noted that out of 426 complaints/references, only one judge Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui was removed by SJC.

Sources told the Express Tribune that whenever the proceedings initiated against the judges, they resign to save pensionary benefits. Likewise, numbers of complaints were made infructuous following the retirement of judges.

Now the SJC verdict mentions that only half a dozen are left and all the rest have been decided.