ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday dismissed a request made by Islamabad High Court (IHC) Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui to suspend proceedings of the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) against him.
A five-member bench of the Supreme Court has been conducting hearings on a petition filed by Justice Siddiqui seeking an open trial of a reference pending against him before the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC). He had also requested the apex court to suspend the SJC’s proceedings against him until the court decides upon his plea for a public trial.
Justice Siddiqui had petitioned the court after a complaint alleging professional misconduct was filed against him by a retired employee of the Capital Development Authority (CDA). The complainant had raised issue over the refurbishment of the senior judge’s official residence beyond his entitlement.
During Tuesday’s hearing, Justice Gulzar Ahmed, who was presiding over the larger bench of the apex court, said that the court did not want to hear the case in pieces as he explained the bench’s decision to dismiss Justice Siddiqui’s request for suspension of proceedings against him.
“This is not the kind of case where a stay order is issued and then the whole case is buried,” Justice Ahmed added.
“We want to hear the case and deliver our verdict as soon as possible,” Justice Azmat Saeed Sheikh said.
“The clauses of the law have been challenged in this case,” he added. “There are 101 questions in this case that need to be addressed.”
“There is no need for a stay order,” Justice Azmat said as the bench adjourned the hearing of the case till Wednesday.