ISLAMABAD: While issuing notice to country’s principal law officer on Thursday, the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) sought legal assistance from him over the federal government’s complaint against superior court judges on June 14.
The federal government has filed references against the superior court judges through President Dr Arif Alvi, alleging that Supreme Court’s 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 it in relation to smooth and efficient conduct of its proceedings.
According to a well-placed source, 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 who once had served as the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Prosecutor General.
About procedure of the SJC, 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 Alvi, drawing his attention towards reports citing government sources that a reference had been filed against him.
Moreover, additional attorney general Zahid F Ebrahim also furnished his resignation in protest a day after the government filed reference over alleged misconduct by the superior court judges.
Pakistan Bar Council Vice-chairman Syed Amjad Shah said that in his view such a move should be resisted, adding that by targeting Justice Faez Isa, the government would weaken its case against other judges against whom references should have been filed.
Justice Faez Isa was elevated from the Balochistan High Court as the Supreme Court judge.owed
In their reaction to the references filed against the judges, some senior lawyers from Quetta vowed to defend judiciary. Similarly, Peshawar High Court Bar Association President Latif Afridi said in an official statement that the lawyers would not let down the judiciary.
The federal government has filed references against the superior court judges through President Dr Arif Alvi, alleging that Supreme Court’s 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 it in relation to smooth and efficient conduct of its proceedings.
According to a well-placed source, 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 who once had served as the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Prosecutor General.
About procedure of the SJC, 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 Alvi, drawing his attention towards reports citing government sources that a reference had been filed against him.
Moreover, additional attorney general Zahid F Ebrahim also furnished his resignation in protest a day after the government filed reference over alleged misconduct by the superior court judges.
Pakistan Bar Council Vice-chairman Syed Amjad Shah said that in his view such a move should be resisted, adding that by targeting Justice Faez Isa, the government would weaken its case against other judges against whom references should have been filed.
Justice Faez Isa was elevated from the Balochistan High Court as the Supreme Court judge.owed
In their reaction to the references filed against the judges, some senior lawyers from Quetta vowed to defend judiciary. Similarly, Peshawar High Court Bar Association President Latif Afridi said in an official statement that the lawyers would not let down the judiciary.