ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered Attorney General Ashtar Ausaf Ali to submit a written response to Islamabad High Court (IHC) Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui’s plea for an open trial of a reference pending against him before the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC), within two weeks.
Justice Siddiqui had sought an open trial after a complaint alleging professional misconduct was filed against him by a retired employee of the Capital Development Authority (CDA). The CDA employee had raised issue over money spent on the refurbishment of the senior judge’s official residence beyond what he was entitled to.
A five-member bench of the apex court ─ headed by Justice Gulzar Ahmed ─ also appointed Advocate Shahid Hamid and Munir A Malik amicus curiae (friends of the court) for the proceedings.
During the hearing, Justice Ijazul Ahsan observed that the case was one of public interest. “This is a unique case and will have far-reaching consequences,” the judge said, as the hearing was adjourned indefinitely.
In the previous hearing of the case, the apex bench had dismissed Justice Siddiqui’s request to suspend the SJC’s proceedings against him until the court decides upon his plea for a public trial.
However, later in the day, Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar stayed the proceedings of the SJC in view of the pending proceedings in the apex court.