SJC reserves opinion in Mazahar Naqvi case

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) Friday reserved its opinion after completing the misconduct proceedings against its former judge Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi. The council, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa, conducted the proceedings.

The other members of the council included Justice Sardar Tariq Masood, Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, Chief Justice Balochistan High Court Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Chief Justice Lahore High Court Justice Amir Bhatti.

The chief justice said a letter written by Justice (retd) Naqvi had been received stating that he will not participate in the proceedings. Similarly, the last paragraph of the letter, written on February 29, was also read out during the proceedings.

Justice Isa said the council had given Mazahar Naqvi the opportunity to cross-examine the witnesses several times but he did not turn up. The chief justice further said on the request of the respondent judge, they conducted the proceedings of the council in an open court.

In pursuance of the council’s order, private witness Zahid Rafiq submitted the documents related to the transactions made with Justice Naqvi besides providing documents regarding Raja Safdar, the person involved in the purchase and sale of land.

To a council query, he submitted that they did not arrange Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi’s stay in London. Addressing Zahid Rafiq, Justice Isa said he had also heard about the payment of 10,000 pounds. Zahid Rafique responded that it was not in the record but Justice Naqvi’s daughter needed money in London and she was paid 5,000 pounds in emergency.

Justice Isa asked Zahid if he had brought the audit report of chartered accountant to which he said no because the amount paid was not evident from the audit report. “We are not taking any action against you but tell us if there’s any pressure on you?” asked the chief justice.

Zahid Rafiq replied that there was no pressure on him. The chief justice told him to be careful in future.

Meanwhile, the chief justice said they had received a letter written by Mazahar Naqvi stating that he will not participate in the council’s proceedings. “It means Mazahar Naqvi is aware that the council is conducting the proceedings,” the CJP said, adding that the council had given him several opportunities to cross-examine the witnesses but he did not come

“We cannot ask anyone to conduct compulsory cross-examination; it has been more than a year,” the CJP remarked. He asked the additional prosecutor whether the council in this case could also give a notice to Mazahar Naqvi. “The council is not required to give a notice to Justice Naqvi,” the additional prosecutor replied.

The chief justice then inquired whether the statements of all the witnesses had been recorded. The additional attorney general replied in the affirmative. “Now your work has finished and our starts,” the CJP told him.