Complaint against judge sent to SJC

Dawood says it was council’s job to ensure that copy of complaint was dispatched to every stakeholder

ISLAMABAD:

Copies of a judicial complaint filed against Supreme Court's Justice Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi was sent to the remaining four members of the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) through an application by Advocate Mian Dawood.

These four members are Justice Qazi Faez Isa, Justice Sardar Tariq Masood, Sindh High Court Chief Justice Ahmed Ali Shaikh, and Peshawar High Court Chief Justice Qaiser Rashid Khan.

The complaint was filed by Advocate Dawood against Justice Naqvi seeking an inquiry into his assets.

He requested the SJC to initiate proceedings against the judge under Article 209 of the Constitution.

In the complaint, Dawood had accused the judge of "misconduct" and "amassing illegitimate assets".

According to the complaint, the SC judge and his family members were found “involved in following malpractices and misuse of power in a criminal-designed pattern during his service”.

It was alleged that Justice Naqvi had used his position to facilitate his sons and a daughter studying abroad and receiving financial gains from Zahid Rafique, a businessman.

The complaint further claimed that the SC judge “openly flaunts his relation with [the] PTI and its leader Imran Khan” and had “influenced” as well as “manipulated” legal cases.

The complaint further stated that the judge had “grossly violated” Article 3 and Article 5 of the Code of Conduct, failing to “be above reproach”.

It requested that on the verification of the mentioned facts, Justice Naqvi be removed from his office as the judge of the SC.

In his application, Dawood stated the complaint against the judge was filed by post on February 23, 2023 and as per the court traditions and rules, it was the responsibility of the SJC to provide its copy to the members.

“However, I understand that the SJC secretary has not yet provided copies of the reference to all [the] members,” he added.

In the application sent to the remaining SJC members, Dawood said information had been provided about the “illegal” increase in the assets of Justice Naqvi and his family in his judicial reference.

He added that he had also provided information about the “misuse” of the judicial position of Justice Naqvi as well as his “ties” with businessmen and influential personalities.

He further stated that he had also provided information about the “direct and indirect secret close relations” of the judge with Imran and former Punjab chief minister Parvez Elahi.