ISLAMABAD: In a dramatic turn of events, Justice Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi, currently under scrutiny for alleged misconduct, has penned an open letter addressing Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa and all Supreme Court (SC) judges. The letter, made available to The Scoop, accuses the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) of subjecting him to “nothing short of disgraceful” treatment in the ongoing inquiry.
Justice Naqvi, who received a show-cause notice on October 27 in connection with 10 complaints, didn’t mince words as he directed sharp criticism towards CJP Isa and fellow SJC members, including Justice Tariq Masood, Lahore High Court Chief Justice Ameer Bhatti, and others. He alleged a clear bias and violation of his fundamental rights, demanding the recusal of specific members from the proceedings.
The judge initially contested SJC proceedings on November 20, challenging the legitimacy of the show-cause notice. He argued that the proceedings were “coram non-judice” and without lawful authority. Following this, a fresh show-cause notice was issued to him on December 4, reigniting the legal battle.
Despite Justice Naqvi’s repeated requests, he claims that the SJC failed to provide necessary documents crucial for his defense. The judge portrayed the SJC’s treatment as “disgraceful” and questioned their refusal to stay proceedings, even with a filed petition.
In the open letter, Justice Naqvi accused the SJC of implicitly acknowledging defects in the initial show-cause notice. He suggested that the proceedings lacked investigation or probe into the veracity of complaints against him and that the SJC members were unfit to oversee the proceedings due to their bias.
Moreover, he alleged that CJP Isa, along with Justice Masood, had written a letter to former CJP Umar Ata Bandial, urging immediate action against him after the “sham audio-leaks controversy” in February. The letter questioned the CJP’s ability to clear his and the judiciary’s reputation while a judge with legally declared assets faced questioning before the SJC.
Justice Naqvi questioned the disparity in treatment, pointing out the initiation of proceedings against him while CJP Isa remained immune to similar inquiries regarding undeclared properties. He deemed the show-cause notice sent to him in October as fraught with “grievous legal, constitutional, and jurisdictional defects.”
Notably, Justice Naqvi highlighted his numerous requests to the SJC for essential documents that were allegedly ignored. He emphasized that his pleas for the recusal of specific SJC members went unanswered.
Towards the end of the letter, Justice Naqvi expressed his dissatisfaction with the proceedings, suggesting they were a clear violation of the law and his fundamental rights. He reserved the right to challenge what he termed as “bogus SJC proceedings,” framing the issue as a matter of institutional principle rather than a personal affair.
The letter concluded with Justice Naqvi questioning whether the Supreme Court of Pakistan would stand for anything.
“Justice Naqvi’s open letter aimed at starting a social media campaign against CJP Isa and lacks legal argument”
In his post on social media platform X, Veteran Court Reporter Matiullah Jan stated Justice Naqvi’s letter is precisely for such social media campaigning purpose and it has no legal argument to make. The trolls from PTI will make full use of this letter. Media of course has to report it as a professional requirement.
Agreeing with him, Senior Court Reporter Hasnaat Malik stated that Justice Naqvi’s open letter to all SC judges has attacked on CJP Qazi Faez Isa by questioning why is it that a judge with assets legally acquired and declared in his tax returns is being called to question before the SJC, when the Chief Justice remains immune to any such proceedings against his undeclared properties.
Despite the serious allegations, senior journalists Matiullah Jan and Hasnaat Malik raised concerns on social media, suggesting that Justice Naqvi’s letter might be aimed at social media campaigning, lacking legal arguments, and potentially being exploited by political trolls.
The unfolding drama in the judiciary raises questions about the internal dynamics and potential repercussions for the individuals involved.
*Note: Tweets of senior journalists Matiullah Jan and Hasnaat Malik were included to provide context and reactions to Justice Naqvi’s letter.*
