Judicial issues: Bar seeks withdrawal of reference against judge

G-B governor alleged the Supreme Appellate Court justice had threatened him.

GILGIT:

Lawyers of Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) have described the judicial reference against G-B’s Supreme Appellate Court (SAC) as a conspiracy and sought a thorough inquiry into the issue.

“We demand withdrawal of the reference against Justice Jafar Shah, who is a well-reputed and respectable judge of the SAC,” said Gilgit Bar Association President Javed Akhtar.

Chief Justice Muhammad Nawaz Abbasi of the SAC had earlier moved a reference against Justice Shah on December 22, following a complaint by G-B Governor Pir Karam Ali Shah, who alleged that Justice Shah had threatened him.

The motive behind Justice Shah’s alleged threat is yet to be ascertained. However, according to sources who wished not to be named, the governor had sent a letter to the federal government to extend Justice Abbasi’s tenure, which expires on January 14. Justice Shah, who aspires to be the next chief justice, was upset by the governor’s move, they added.

The reference stated that Justice Abbasi was informed that the governor had intimated the provincial chief secretary. Secretary Kashmir Affairs and Northern Areas had conveyed to Justice Abbasi that the governor had confirmed receiving threats from a senior judge in G-B.

The reference stated that issuing threats to the governor by a judge is a violation of the court’s code of conduct.

Akhtar said the G-B governor had been used as “a tool in a plot that is aimed at maligning judges and the judiciary.” He demanded that an apology be sought from Justice Shah.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 6^th, 2012.