ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court, on Tuesday, reserved its verdict in the case of former Islamabad High Court judge Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui, who is challenging his dismissal from the post. The five-member bench, led by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa and consisting of Justice Amin-ud-Din Khan, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail, Justice Hasan Azhar Rizvi, and Justice Irfan Saadat Khan, conducted the proceedings on Siddiqui’s plea.
During the hearing, CJP Isa emphasized that the issue lies not in the speech itself but in its content concerning the dismissal of Judge Siddiqui by the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC). He pointed out that if a judge is removed for giving a speech, it could lead to a significant reduction in the judiciary’s strength.
CJP Isa clarified that a judge’s code of conduct does not prevent them from speaking, and the problem arises when demands are made in the speech. He mentioned that judges often give speeches in various forums, and the focus should be on the content rather than the act of speaking.
The live broadcast of the proceedings was made available on the apex court’s website and YouTube channel.
Former IHC judge Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui is being represented by lawyer Hamid Khan, while Khawaja Haris is representing former ISI director general Lieutenant General (retd) Faiz Hamid and Brigadier (retd) Irfan Ramay.
The case was brought for an early hearing after Siddiqui filed a miscellaneous application with the Supreme Court earlier this month.
CJP Isa stated that judges in other countries also participate in interviews and debates, highlighting the need to respect constitutional institutions. The court questioned the appropriateness of Siddiqui’s allegations and discussed whether the matter could be investigated by the court itself.
In the last hearing on December 14, 2023, the apex court directed Siddiqui to name the ex-spy chief and others in his plea against dismissal.
Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui was removed from the IHC for his speech targeting intelligence agencies in 2018. He accused sensitive institutions of interfering in judicial work during his address to the Rawalpindi Bar Association. Multiple references were filed against him, leading to his dismissal on October 11, 2018. Siddiqui challenged his dismissal, and the case has been ongoing since then, with the latest hearing held on June 13, 2022. In his petition, Siddiqui seeks to cancel the dismissal notification issued against him as an IHC judge. The Islamabad Bar Association and Karachi Bar Association are also parties in the petition.
