Islamabad: The Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) declared retired Supreme Court judge Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi guilty of misconduct on Thursday.
Following this verdict, the SJC recommended his dismissal from service and forwarded its opinion to the President of Pakistan for further action. The SJC reviewed nine complaints against former judge Naqvi under provision 6 of Article 206 of the Constitution of Pakistan, finding him guilty of misconduct and determining that he should have been removed from his position.
Furthermore, the SJC made an amendment to Article 5 of the Judges Code of Conduct in response to allegations against judges of the Supreme Court and high courts being publicized. Judges expressed concern over these allegations and the SJC reached a consensus that responding to baseless allegations would not violate the Judges Code of Conduct. As a result, Article 5 was amended to address judges’ concerns.
Read more: Resignation of Justice Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi has been accepted
Additionally, the SJC deliberated upon six complaints against other judges and found no action was required on five of them. However, a notice was issued to a judge of the Balochistan High Court regarding a complaint, directing him to submit his reply within 14 days.
Earlier, on January 10, 2024, Supreme Court Justice Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi resigned amid allegations of misconduct. In his letter addressed to President Arif Alvi, the judge cited recent circumstances and due process considerations as reasons for his decision to resign from the Supreme Court.