Justice Naqvi Concerned Over Delay in Petitions Against Supreme Judicial Council Proceedings

Justice Mazahar Ali Naqvi has urged prompt action, as he has criticized the three-member committee over the non-fixation of constitutional petitions, highlighting potential prejudice

Justice Naqvi Concerned Over Delay in Petitions Against Supreme Judicial Council Proceedings

ISLAMABAD: Supreme Court's Justice Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi Wednesday expressed wonder over the non-fixation of his petitions challenging the proceedings of Supreme Judicial Council (SJC). He has once again asked the three members committee to entertain and fix his petitions regarding Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) for hearing.

Justice Naqvi has already filed petitions wherein he challenged proceedings of SJC against him.

The three member committee headed by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa and comprising Justice Sardar Tariq Masood and Justice Ijazul Ahsan deals with deciding the entertainability of fixation of instituted cases.

Justice Naqvi sent a 2-page letter wherein he stated that it is in continuation of the earlier letter filed by him wherein request was made for fixation of two constitutional petitions filed.

"However, it is astonishing that none of the petitions is neither numbered nor put in the process for fixation before the Court despite of the lapse of time as stipulated in the Supreme Court (Practice & Procedure) Act, 2023," stated Justice Naqvi.

“Under sections 3 and 7 of the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Act, 2023 you are entrusted with the responsibility of fixing for hearing, no later than 14 days, petitions filed under Article 184(3) of the Constitution and applications seeking interim relief.”

Justice Naqvi further stated in his letter that applications seeking interim relief have been filed as well separately.

"In spite of these petitions and applications for interim relief having been filed the SJC is proceeding against me (Justice Naqvi), which is seriously prejudicing my Constitution Petitions before the Apex Court wherein my fundamental rights have been intruded upon on the basis of malicious persecution based on bald and frivolous allegations."

"Any further delay in fixing for hearing my constitution petitions and applications for interim relief will seriously prejudice me and further if any order is passed on the basis of proceedings, it may frustrate my submissions agitated in the Constitution Petitions."

"In view of the above I respectfully request that the constitution petitions and applications for interim relief filed by me may please be fixed before a Bench of this Court except those Judges who may recuse themselves in view of the principles of nemo judex in causa sua."

The writer is an Islamabad based journalist working with The Friday Times. He tweets @SabihUlHussnain