Four witnesses record statements in SJC

Chief justice said that anyone could come to SJC, cross-examine witnesses in open proceedings

ISLAMABAD:

The Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) recorded the statements of four more witnesses on Thursday in its proceedings against former Supreme Court judge, Justice (retd) Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi and allowed him to cross examine the witnesses.

During the SJC proceedings, chaired by Chief Justice Qazi Faiz Isa, Justice (retd) Naqvi's counsel Khawaja Haris recused himself from assisting the council. The chief justice said that anyone could come to the SJC and cross-examine the witnesses in the open proceedings.

So far, the SJC has recorded statements of seven witnesses. The first prosecution witness on Thursday, was Deputy Military Estate Officer Abdul Ghaffar, who submitted documents under oath. Kashif Shahzad, Lahore Cantonment Executive Officer presented the record of constructions on the land.

The statement of the third witness Asif Uzair, director of a private company that determined the value of land in question, was recorded. The fourth witness was Kashif Rehman, director of a private land evaluation company.

No one cross-examined the witnesses after their statements. The chief justice remarked that anyone could come and cross-examine the witnesses in the open proceedings of the SJC. The SJC issued notice to officer of a private housing society and manager of the bank and adjourned for till Friday (today).