SJC received a charge of misconduct leveled against Judge Mazahar Naqvi.
In the complaint, it is said that Judge Naqvi “had exploited his position as a judge of the top court in the most blatant fashions.”
ISLAMABAD: On Saturday, the Punjab chapter of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) attorneys filed a charge of misconduct with the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) against Justice Mazahar Ali Naqvi, a judge on the Supreme Court.
In the complaint, the attorneys requested that Judge Naqvi be the subject of an investigation for “committing misconduct in view of certain viral audio tapes broadcast on social media.” They wrote to Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial with this request.
As well as “passing conflicting orders in the same subject,” Judge Naqvi “deviated from the code of conduct,” it was said.
The complaint said, “This attitude and action runs contrary to the fundamental principle of Rule of Conduct pursuant to which a judge is obliged to avoid treating identical causes differently.
The attorneys added that “it is against this backdrop that we feel obligated to bring to your kind notice the violations of judicial code of conduct, Constitution of the Law by Justice Naqvi who is currently serving as a judge of the SC” and included transcripts of the audio leaks with the complaint.
Judge Naqvi “had exploited his position as a judge of the top court in the most evident methods,” the complaint continued.
Two audio clips attributed to the former chief minister of Punjab, Pervaiz Elahi, are what sparked the controversy surrounding the judges of the supreme court. The top court has since been urged to launch an investigation into the matter and allay concerns that the judiciary is “under the question mark” as a result.
Soon after, a fresh audio tape purporting to be of PTI politician Yasmin Rashid and Lahore Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Ghulam Mahmood Dogar surfaced on social media. In this clip, a man is heard indicating that he has “his man” at the supreme court.
The current issue concerning the nation’s senior judges received further fuel the day before when a new audio leak said to be of a phone call between Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Fawad Chaudhry and his brother Advocate Faisal Chaudhry surfaced.
Three judges are mentioned in the purported chat between Fawad and Faisal: Justice Mazahir Ali Naqvi of the Supreme Court, Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial, and Chief Judge of Lahore High Court Muhammad Ameer Bhatti.
