LHC top judge faces misconduct charge

A petition has been filed against Lahore High Court (LHC) Chief Justice Malik Shahzad Ahmad Khan in the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC), seeking his dismissal over allegations of misconduct.

The petitioner, Rafaqat Ali Tanoli, accused the chief justice of obstructing justice in the murder case of his son, alleging misuse of office and influence.

Tanoli’s complaint, filed via mail on May 29, referenced a road accident and asserted that Justice Khan exerted his influence in the criminal case.

A related case is also currently under review in the Islamabad High Court (IHC), adding to the judicial scrutiny faced by the LHC chief justice.

The Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) recently approved the nomination of Justice Khan as an SC judge by a majority of five to four.

The Parliamentary Committee on Judges Appointment has also approved his nomination and a notification for his appointment is likely to be issued soon after Eidul Azha.

On Friday, CJ Khan said that spy agencies had been meddling in the affairs of the judiciary but also claimed that such meddling was coming to an end as the judiciary was delivering justice without fear or greed.

“The path of martial law has been permanently blocked, martial law has been buried, and martial law’s curse has been lifted forever,” Justice Khan had said while addressing judges, lawyers, government prosecutors, and litigants after the inaugural ceremony of the e-court in the Judicial Complex Rawalpindi.

Last week, CJ Khan had issued contempt notices to a sector commander of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) on the basis of reports submitted by an anti-terrorism court (ATC) judge in Sargodha.