ISLAMABAD: Known for his wisdom and compassion for the appellants, Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan of the Supreme Court (SC) is all set to retire on May 6, after reaching superannuation, bringing the number of total SC judges to 15.
Justice Ejaz heard landmark case of Panama Papers and authored the verdict which disqualified Nawaz Sharif last year. Among others, he heard cases pertaining to missing persons, Orange Line Metro Train and contempt of court cases against Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) loyalist Nehal Hashmi and Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry.
Justice Ejaz was appointed as Peshawar High Court (PHC) judge in September 2000 during Pervez Musharraf’s era, being the only judge of the PHC who did not take oath under the November 3, 2007, Provisional Constitutional Order (PCO) nor Naek formula.
He was among the few judges who were restored along with former chief justice Iftikhar Chaudhry on March 16, 2009, after a successful lawyers’ movement. He served as PHC judge for nine years and was appointed PHC chief justice in October 2009 and later elevated as Supreme Court judge on November 17, 2011.
He was among the few judges who wrote dissent note during the Iftikhar Chaudhry era. He also dissented with majority opinion regarding the presidential reference related to the seniority of Islamabad High Court judges.
He received flak due to his July 28, 2017, ruling, wherein he disqualified the ruling prime minister of the country on account of non-disclosure of his un-withdrawn salary.
Earlier, Justice Khan was a member of the judicial commission which had rejected Imran Khan’s allegations of rigging in the 2013 polls.
He was also among minority judges who struck down the 21st constitutional amendment to try civilians in military courts on August 5, 2015. He was also among minority judges who directed the retired superior court judges with less than five years of tenure to deposit their pension benefits (Rs1.64 billion).
