Justice Naqvi seeks CJP, two other members’ recusal from misconduct hearing

Justice Naqvi seeks CJP, two other members’ recusal from misconduct hearing

Islamabad: Supreme Court judge Justice Sayyed Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi has raised objections on Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa and two other members of the council —due to hear misconduct complaints against him.

“Their participation in the proceedings resulting in a show cause notice being issued to me taints those proceedings, inter alia, with bias and makes all orders passed in such proceedings as being without lawful authority and of no legal effect,” Justice Naqvi stated In his preliminary reply to a showcause notice issued to him by the SJC on October 28, 2023.

The judge objected that CJP Isa and Justice Afghan being the chairman and member of the inquiry commission, respectively, investigating the audio leaks case against him, cannot participate in the SJC’s proceedings against him.

"Without accepting the objections, both learned Judges, in the interest of propriety, recused themselves from the Bench," wrote Justice Naqvi in his 18-page preliminary reply submitted before the SJC.

Justice Naqvi asserted that the three senior judges ought not to hear the complaints against him in the interest of propriety, justice and fairness.

“Their participation in the proceedings resulting in a Show Cause Notice being issued to me taints those proceedings, inter alia, with bias and makes all orders passed in such proceedings as being without lawful authority and of no legal effect,” he wrote.