Khudayar Mohla –
While issuing notice to country’s principal law officer on Thursday the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) sought Attorney General for Pakistan legal assistance over federal government complain against superior court judges on June 14.
It has been reported that federal government has filed references against superior court judges through President Dr Arif Alvi alleging that judge of the top court Justice Qazi Faez Isa and Sindh High Court judge Justice Karim Khan Agha have not declared their foreign properties while filing wealth statements.
Under the SJC procedure of inquiry 2005, the Council may require the Attorney-General for Pakistan (AGP) or any other counsel to appear and assist the Council in relation to smooth and efficient conduct of its proceedings.
A well-placed source told that the Council on Thursday issued a notice to the AGP, seeking legal assistance in an assets concealment matter against Supreme Court judge Justice Qazi Faez Isa and Sindh High Court judge Justice Karim Khan Agha once had served as Prosecutor General National Accountability Bureau.
About procedure of the SJC at this stage , former vice president of the Supreme Court Bar Association Chaudhry Ikram said that after preliminary hearing of the matter, the SJC may issue notices to the two judges, if required.
It is pertinent to mention that top court judge Justice Qazi Faez on May 28 wrote a letter to President Dr Alvi drawing his attention towards reports citing government sources that a reference had been filed against him.
Besides, an additional attorney general for Pakistan Zahid F Ebrahim also furnished resigned from his post in protest a day after the government filed reference over alleged misconduct by the superior court judges. Ebrahim said in the resignation that persons at the highest level of the government have also confirmed to him that the reference was filed.
Vice chairman of top regulatory body of the lawyers Syed Amja Shah said that in his view such a move should be resisted, adding that by targeting Justice Qazi Faez Isa, the government will weaken its case against other judges against whom references should have been filed.
Justice Qazi Faez Isa was elevated from Balochistan High Court as Supreme Court judge. Some senior lawyers from Quetta said that they will defend judiciary whereas president of the Peshawar High Court Bar Association A Latif Afridi said in an official statement that lawyers community will not let down the judiciary.
