SJC grants former judge Mazhar Naqvi another chance to present his case

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Judicial Council gave former judge Mazhar Akbar Naqvi another chance to present his case and issued him a notice.

The Supreme Judicial Council said that Mazhar Naqvi can appear before the council tomorrow and present his point of view if he wants.

The council said that if Mazhar Naqvi’s lawyers ask for time, the complainant will be heard.

The Supreme Judicial Council has decided that the council’s proceedings will continue tomorrow as well. The Supreme Judicial Council’s proceedings have been adjourned till 11:30 am tomorrow.

CJP wants logical conclusion in Justice Mazahar Naqvi case
Earlier, Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Qazi Faez Isa remarked that it cannot happen that a judge resigns after destroying the reputation of the entire institution and we do not take any action.

Read more: President Alvi accepts resignation of SC’s Justice Mazahar Naqvi

He gave these remarks while chairing the Supreme Court Judicial Council that is seized with the proceedings against former judge Mazhar Ali Akbar Naqvi, who tendered his resignation a day ago.
At the outset of the meeting, Attorney General of Pakistan Mansoor Usman Awan read out the resignation of Mazhar Naqvi.

The Attorney General said that if a judge resigns, no further action can be taken against him under the rules of the council.

Justice Ameer Bhatti, a member of the council, pointed out Article 209(3), and the Attorney General said that according to the constitution, if a member is not available, then the senior most judge will be a member of the council.

The chief justice said that Justice Ijaz ul Ahsan did not want to sit in the proceedings, we have to see if we can move forward with four members.

The chief justice said that under Article 209, in the absence of a member, and if the senior most senior judge is available, “we will proceed further.”

After that, a brief pause was made in the meeting, after the break, the meeting of the council resumed and Justice Mansoor Ali Shah joined the proceedings.

Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa asked the Attorney General to assist in whether the matter was over. This resignation was not given at the beginning of the proceedings of the Supreme Judicial Council, it was given after the issuance of the show cause by the council.

Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa remarked that it is possible that the applications are wrong, the judge resigned under pressure, the resignation of the judge under pressure will damage the reputation of the institution.

He said that the proceedings to remove the judge from office have certainly ended, resigning is a personal decision of a judge, we have an unusual situation in front of us.

Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa remarked that it cannot happen that a judge resigns after destroying the reputation of the entire institution and we do not take any action, the whole of Pakistan is looking at us, someone has to give funding, the complaints were genuine or not.