ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Tuesday deferred its decision on former Islamabad High Court judge Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui’s petition seeking his dismissal.
The plea was heard by a five-member bench chaired by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa and consisting of Justices Amin-ud-Din Khan, Jamal Khan Mandokhail, Hasan Azhar Rizvi, and Irfan Saadat Khan.
After reserving the ruling, CJP Isa dictated the order for today’s proceedings in open court.
The written ruling requested that the parties in the case respond to questions addressed during the court hearings.
In the order, the SC also questioned whether the SJC performed an investigation.
“If the inquiry was not done under the Constitution and law, what would be the result?” the judge asked.
The court also highlighted in the judgment the former judge’s retirement date, which is June 30, 2021, which means he has already surpassed his superannuation age.
In its order, the Supreme Court asked the following questions:
What remedies can be provided if Shaukat Siddiqui’s appeal is granted?
Can the Supreme Court refer the subject back to the Supreme Judicial Council?
Is the judge’s speech not against the code of conduct if council action is not necessary?”
The court instructed the parties to respond to the aforementioned queries within three weeks.
“If deemed necessary, further judicial action can be taken by the Supreme Court,” the statement said.
