Islamabad: One of Pakistan’s most senior judges is set to appear before the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC), the highest accountability forum for judges of the superior judiciary, in a case pertaining to assets beyond means.
The case against Supreme Court Justice Qazi Faez Eisa, allegedly for owning three properties in London, has been filed by Pakistan President Dr Arif Alvi.
The Supreme Judicial Council is scheduled to take up the reference seeking Justice Eisa’s removal on June 14.
In the said reference, Justice Eisa faces charges of violating Articles II and III of the Code of Conduct for judges, issued by the SJC in 2009 — including violation of oath for judges, misdeclaration of assets and money laundering.
The reference alleges that the source of funds used by Justice Eisa’s wife to acquire the foreign properties is not given in the document.
Therefore, the reference argues, the SJC should probe the matter to assess whether these properties were acquired through money laundering.
The third allegation is that the judge violated Section 116 (1) (b) and Section 116 (2) of the Income Tax Ordinance 2001 by concealing foreign properties owned by his wife.
Justice Eisa, in response to the reference filed against him, wrote to President Alvi on June 3 repeating his request for a copy of the reference.
In the eight-page letter, the Supreme Court judge expressed confidence that the president will do everything in his power to ensure that all parties obey the Constitution.
Earlier on May 29, the judge had written a one-page letter to the president, complaining that selective leaks to the media amounted to assassination of his character, thus jeopardising his right to due process and fair trial.
In his letter Justice Eisa said he might have endured the inquisition tactics employed against him and his family.
However, he raised the question if the matter didn’t suggest something more sinister to undermine the independence of the judiciary.
The letter also questioned whether the prime minister had disclosed in all his tax returns the properties owned by his wives and children.
If the prime minister did not do so, he had surely not advised the president to submit the reference.
Meanwhile, lawyers’ associations and bar councils across the country are gearing up for a protest move on June 14 in which they would express solidarity with the sitting supreme court judge.
President of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), Amanullah Kanrani, on Friday announced that lawyers from Balochistan would burn a copy of the reference filed against apex court judge at the main entrance of the Supreme Court building on June 14.
Kanrani added the legal fraternity from the province would stage a sit-in that would continue until the withdrawal of the reference or its rejection by the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC).
Lawyers of Islamabad High Court Bar, Supreme Court Bar and Punjab Bar have also announced boycotts of courts to condemn the government’s ‘malicious’ campaign against the judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
