The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) called on the legal fraternity to observe a black day on July 2, when the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) will resume hearing of references against Supreme Court Justice Qazi Faez Isa and Sindh High Court Justice K. K. Agha, Dawn News reported.
The SCBA plans to hold a protest “to express its anger” over the treatment of the two superior court judges by the SJC.
According to reports, during the hearing, Justice Isa and Agha will be given the opportunity to answer the charges leveled against them in the references. Meanwhile, Attorney General of Pakistan is likely to argue on the maintainability of the references in question. The reference was first taken up on June 14 by the SJC amid protests by the legal fraternity across the country.
Previously the Pakistan Bar Council had already urged the SJC to make its hearings public. Contrary to the PBC`s demand the Supreme Court`s public relations office issued a statement on June 15. The statement notified that there are pending references against Justice Esa and Justice Agha.
As per reports, no show cause notice has been issued to the judges mentioned in the reference, but the SJC has sent copies of the reference to their residence pertaining to section 8(3) of inquiry rules.
The presidential reference alleges that sources to acquire foreign properties by Justice Isa’s wife have not been disclosed or accounted for. Government allegations further suggest that the judge has violated Section 116 (1) (b) and Section 116 (2) of the Income Tax Ordinance (ITO) 2001 by concealing foreign properties of his wife.
The reference against Justice Agha alleges that although Justice Agha had declared his foreign property in 2018, the value was not disclosed. As per reports, the government has attached an FBR report pertaining to Justice Agha’s assets in the presidential reference in question.
The SCBA plans to hold a protest “to express its anger” over the treatment of the two superior court judges by the SJC.
According to reports, during the hearing, Justice Isa and Agha will be given the opportunity to answer the charges leveled against them in the references. Meanwhile, Attorney General of Pakistan is likely to argue on the maintainability of the references in question. The reference was first taken up on June 14 by the SJC amid protests by the legal fraternity across the country.
Previously the Pakistan Bar Council had already urged the SJC to make its hearings public. Contrary to the PBC`s demand the Supreme Court`s public relations office issued a statement on June 15. The statement notified that there are pending references against Justice Esa and Justice Agha.
As per reports, no show cause notice has been issued to the judges mentioned in the reference, but the SJC has sent copies of the reference to their residence pertaining to section 8(3) of inquiry rules.
The presidential reference alleges that sources to acquire foreign properties by Justice Isa’s wife have not been disclosed or accounted for. Government allegations further suggest that the judge has violated Section 116 (1) (b) and Section 116 (2) of the Income Tax Ordinance (ITO) 2001 by concealing foreign properties of his wife.
The reference against Justice Agha alleges that although Justice Agha had declared his foreign property in 2018, the value was not disclosed. As per reports, the government has attached an FBR report pertaining to Justice Agha’s assets in the presidential reference in question.