ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday gave the green light to the removal of Supreme Court (SC) Judge (SC) Mazahar Ali Naqvi, who was found guilty of misconduct by the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) earlier this month.
The Ministry of Law and Justice issued an official letter for the dismissal of the judge.
“Consequent to the recommendation of the Supreme Judicial Council of Pakistan in accordance with Article 209 (6) read with Article 48 (1) of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, 1973 and SI No 31 of Schedule VB of Trade Rules 1973, the President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is pleased to remove Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi (former Judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan) from office, for being guilty of misconduct, effective 10 January 2024,” the notification said.
The ministry also notified that an earlier notification regarding the resignation of Justice (retd) Naqvi issued by the division was later withdrawn.
In a surprise move in January, Justice (Retd) Naqvi resigned from his position following allegations of misconduct, and within a day, fellow Justice (Retd) Ijazul Ahsan also resigned, raising questions about his premature exit .
In his resignation letter, the former judge had said: “[…] In circumstances that are public knowledge and, to some extent, public record, it is no longer possible for me to continue serving as a judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan. Due process considerations also compel it.”
However, the SJC, after carrying out more than two months of misconduct proceedings, held that the controversial judge was guilty of misconduct, suggesting that he should have been dismissed before his resignation.
In a brief statement, the highest judicial body headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa opined that the former judge, who is facing several allegations, was guilty of misconduct and “should have been removed from office.” of judge”.
The highest judicial forum said that it considered six different complaints, in chronological order, and with respect to five of the opinions expressed by the members to whom it was referred, it recommended that there was no basis in them, with which the SJC agreed.
He ruled on the nine complaints against the former judge under Article 209(6) of the Constitution and “was of the opinion that he was guilty of misconduct and should have been removed from the position of judge.”
The news came after the high court's verdict last month that the proceedings against a judge by the SJC will not stop even after his resignation or retirement.
