Sacked judge Jahangir Awan reinstated

ISLAMABAD: Additional Sessions Judge Jahangir Awan, who was previously removed from office in December 2020 for misconduct, has been reinstated after hearing of his judicial service appeal.

The decision was delivered by a three-member tribunal led by Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani of the Islamabad High Court. The tribunal also included Justice Mian Gul Hasan Aurangzeb and Justice Tariq Mahmood Jahangiri.

Judge Jahangir Awan was dismissed from his position after a firing incident involving Chaudhry Khurram, the husband of former member of Punjab Assembly Abida Raja, in the Red Zone of Islamabad.

After the incident, the then IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah, after an inquiry issued an order for the removal of judge Jahangir Awan from his post.

On December 8, 2020, a heated argument between Sessions Judge Jehangir Awan and Chaudhry Khurram escalated into gunfire on Constitution Avenue.

Judge Jehangir Awan and Khurram were traveling in their vehicles when they engaged in a verbal altercation near D-Chowk. The situation intensified as they proceeded to a nearby fuel station in front of the Foreign Office, where they exchanged gunfire.

Following a thorough investigation into the incident, an order issued by the then IHC chief justice, stated that the misconduct of judge Jehangir Awan had been established, leading to his dismissal from service. The then IHC chief justice invoked Rule 4(1)(b) to exercise its authority in imposing the major penalty of dismissal.

Justice Minallah, while addressing the matter, highlighted that disciplinary proceedings were already underway against the dismissed judge, based on a report received from the district and sessions judge (West) in Islamabad on July 27, 2020.

The order further mentioned that Khurram Pervez, the main accused in the case, was reportedly the husband of a member of the provincial assembly of Punjab.

Both the judge and Khurram Pervez were initially taken to the police station following the altercation, but they were later released, as per the available records.

The incident had raised serious concerns about the conduct and behaviour of judicial officers, prompting an investigation and subsequent disciplinary actions.