The Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) has ruled that the apex court’s retired judge Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi was “guilty of misconduct” and “should have been removed from the office of judge”.
The council, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa and comprising Justice Sardar Tariq Masood, Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, Chief Justice Balochistan High Court Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan, and Chief Justice Lahore High Court Justice Amir Bhatti, conducted the proceedings.
Naqvi submitted his resignation from the Supreme Court on January 10, citing circumstances that were widely known to the public as the reason for his decision to step down.
The resignation letter was directed to President Dr. Arif Alvi, who approved it the following day.
In a press release issued by the SJC today, it announced that the council had provided its assessment regarding the nine complaints against the judge, as per Article 209(6) of the Constitution.
In today’s statement, the highest judicial body announced that the SJC reviewed six separate complaints in chronological order. Regarding five of these complaints, after considering the opinions expressed by the relevant members, it was recommended that they lacked substance, a decision with which the SJC agreed.
However, concerning complaints lodged against a Judge of the High Court of Balochistan, the SJC issued a notice requesting a reply or explanation within fourteen days.
Regarding Naqvi, the SJC provided its assessment on the nine complaints against the former judge under Article 209(6) of the Constitution, concluding that he was found guilty of misconduct and should have been removed from the position of Judge.
