SC rejects plea to stay SJC proceedings against IHC judge

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Tuesday turned down a request of a sitting judge of the Islamabad High Court to suspend the Supreme Judicial Council’s (SJC) proceedings on a complaint against him.

Headed by Justice Gulzar Ahmed a five-member bench of the apex court rejected the plea of Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui to grant a stay order against his trial in a reference alleging professional misconduct.

Justice Siddiqui filed a constitutional petition, requesting the top court to order an open trial of the complaint pending with SJC. He asked the court to suspend the SJC proceedings until the court decides his petition.

Justice Gulzar remarked that this was not the kind of the case, which should be buried after granting an injunction. He said the court wanted to decide it as soon as possible, instead of keeping it pending.

The hearing was adjourned till Wednesday (tomorrow).

The SJC had earlier issued a show-cause notice to the IHC judge on the complaint filed by a retired employee of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) alleging professional misconduct.

The petitioner’s counsel argued that the rules of SJC were in contravention of the Constitution, which does not permit the council to draft laws, but only a code of conduct.

He suggested that trial should be conducted in an open court because the public would know a complete truth.