Supreme Judicial Council of Pakistan

The Supreme Judicial Council of Pakistan is a judicial body of the superior judiciary of Pakistan, empowered under the Article 209 of the constitution of Pakistan, to hear cases of misconduct against judges.

Constitutional composition

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The composition of the Council is set out in the constitution as:

Where the council is investigating a member of the council he is replaced by the next most senior judge.

Current composition

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Name Retirement Qualifying criteria Comments
Yahya Afridi 25 October 2027 Chief Justice of Pakistan
Mansoor Ali Shah 27 November 2027 Senior most judge of Supreme Court
Munib Akhtar 13 December 2028 Second senior most judge of Supreme Court
Aamer Farooq 25 April 2031 Senior most chief justice of a provincial high court (Islamabad High Court) Aamer Farooq will remain member of the council until his retirement unless he is elevated to Supreme Court or if there is a reference against him
Muhammad Hashim Kakar 17 September 2025 Second senior most chief justice of a provincial high court (Balochistan High Court) Kakar will remain member of the council until his retirement unless he is elevated to Supreme Court or if there is a reference against him
Ms. Jazeela Aslam Secretary of the Council Member in virtue of being Registrar of the Supreme Court

Powers

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No judge of any of the five High Courts or of the Supreme Court of Pakistan may be dismissed except by the President on the report of the Supreme Judicial Council. The Council may start proceedings against a judge either by its own initiative or by reference from the President of Pakistan.

If the Council concludes that the judge is guilty of misconduct and should be removed from office, it can recommend this to the President.

A judge of a court or tribunal subordinate to a High Court may be dismissed by the High Court concerned.

List of judges referenced to Supreme Judicial Council

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Name Court Reasons Result
Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry Supreme Court of Pakistan Acquitted
Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui Islamabad High Court Speech against military and ISI[1] On March 22, 2024, Supreme Court ruled that the dismissal of former Islamabad High Court Judge Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui was unlawful and he shall be considered as a retired Judge.[2] Retired and Acquitted
Qazi Faez Isa Supreme Court of Pakistan Purchase price of one property not cited [3] Acquitted
Muhammad Farrukh Irfan Khan Lahore High Court Offshore company reported in Panama Papers[4] Resigned
Muhammad Anwar Khan Kasi[4] Islamabad High Court Acquitted
Sayyed Muhammad Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi[4] Lahore High Court SJC proceedings continued in light of SC decision[5] and opinioned that he was guilty of misconduct and should have been removed as a Judge.[6] The Ministry of Law and Justice (Pakistan) issued a notification effectuating his removal.[7] Removed
Mazhar Iqbal Sidhu[4] Lahore High Court Resigned

References

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  1. ^ "Islamabad High Court judge sacked for his remarks against ISI". The Hindu. October 12, 2018 – via www.thehindu.com.
  2. ^ Supreme, Court of Pakistan (22 March 2024). "IN THE SUPREME COURT OF PAKISTAN (Original Jurisdiction)" (PDF). Retrieved 2024-05-13.
  3. ^ "Purchase price of one property not cited". thenews.com.pk.
  4. ^ a b c d Iqbal, Nasir (December 27, 2018). "SJC to hear complaint of misconduct against LHC judge". DAWN.COM.
  5. ^ Supreme Court Order. "IN THE SUPREME COURT OF PAKISTAN (Appellate Jurisdiction)" (PDF). Retrieved 2024-05-13.
  6. ^ Bhatti, Haseeb (2024-03-07). "Ex-SC judge Mazahar Naqvi 'guilty of misconduct', should've been sacked: Supreme Judicial Council". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
  7. ^ Ministry of Law. "REMOVE SAYYED MAZAHAR ALI AKBAR NAQVI(FORMERLY, JUDGE, SUPREME COURT OF PAKISTAN)FROM HIS OFFICE". Retrieved 2024-05-13.