ISLAMABAD - Islamabad High Court (IHC) ex-judge Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui Monday contended before the Supreme Court of Pakistan that he was removed as a judge of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) without holding an inquiry on the allegations, he made in his speech.
A five-member bench of the apex court headed by Justice Umar Ata Bandial conducted hearing of Shaukat Siddiqui’s petition against the Supreme Judicial Commission (SJC) recommendations and the federal government notification for his removal.
Justice Siddiqui was removed on the recommendation of the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) for making speech at the District Bar Association, Rawalpindi on July 2018. He had accused the certain officers of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) of interfering in the judiciary’s affairs.
Hamid Khan Advocate, representing the ex-IHC judge contended that since the order passed in Faizabad dharna case, former chief justice Saqib Nisar started a witch-hunt against him for being an independent judge.
Justice Tariq Masood asked that why the IHC judge failed to issue contempt notices to the military officials who allegedly approached him to influence proceedings in the Panama Papers case. “Why did the judge entertain the said military officials at his residence at all,” he further asked. At this, Siddiqui approached the rostrum and asked the bench if he should have been removed from his post for not issuing a contempt notice to a general?
“There is a need to understand the circumstances. The then chief justice Mian Saqib Nisar was breathing down my neck and wanted to sack me on account of my independent conduct that was irksome to a spy agency at that time,” claimed the ex-judge.
Siddiqui stated that he had been a lawyer for 30 years and served as a judge of the high court for seven years and the litigant for the last three years. He added, “I understand the judicial system much better.” “Hang me if you want,” he stated in anger.
Justice Bandial took exception to his tone and said that even the “worst litigants” do not address the court in this tone. He also chided lawyer Hamid Khan for allowing his client to address the court.
The bench asked the counsel to furnish copies of the SJC notice issued on Feb 22, 2018, and the complaints against the ex-IHC judge’s remarks against the military at the next hearing.