Judge Naqvi says it is “no longer possible” for him to continue serving as a Supreme Court judge
ISLAMABAD: Justice Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi of the Supreme Court on Wednesday resigned from his position following allegations of misconduct.
“It was an honor to be appointed and serve first as a judge of the Lahore High Court, Lahore, and then as a judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan. In the circumstances which are a matter of public knowledge and, to some extent, public record, it is “Already It is not possible for me to continue serving as a judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan. Due process considerations also compel him,” the judge said in a resignation letter sent to President Arif Alvi.
“Therefore, effective today, I resign as a judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan,” the letter added.
The news came a day after the Supreme Court refused to stop the proceedings being carried out by the SJC against Justice Naqvi with the ruling that without hearing the case on the merits, the stay cannot be granted.
A three-member bench of the high court, headed by Justice Amin-ud-Din Khan and comprising Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail and Justice Musrat Hilali, heard Justice Mazahar's petition, challenging the proceedings of the SJC as well as the notice of cause issued to accused of misconduct.
On October 27 last year, the SJC issued a show-cause notice to Justice Mazahar amid several complaints alleging court manipulation and financial misconduct on the part of the SC judge. The Pakistan Bar Council, lawyer Mian Dawood and others had filed complaints against the Supreme Court judge.
In his response, the Supreme Court judge raised issues with the investigation and asked Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa and two other judges to recuse themselves from the matter.
On November 20, he challenged the SJC procedure and also challenged the show-cause notice issued to him by the council, saying that the initiation of the procedure was coram non judice and without legal authority.
Subsequently, on November 22, the SJC served a second show cause notice, demanding a detailed response from the judge on the allegations raised by multiple petitioners.
Then on January 4, Justice Mazahar filed a petition in the high court under Article 184(3) of the Constitution, calling the allegations of misconduct leveled against him a direct and flagrant attack on the independence of power judicial.
