Former Judge Mazahar Akbar Naqvi Found Guilty By SJC

The Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) declared on Thursday that retired Supreme Court judge Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi is guilty of misconduct. The SJC has recommended his dismissal from service and forwarded its opinion to the President of Pakistan for further action. The SJC reviewed nine complaints against former judge Naqvi under the provisions of Article 206, Section 6, of the Constitution of Pakistan. Concluding that he should have been removed from his position, the SJC found him culpable of misconduct.

Additionally, the SJC announced an amendment to Article 5 of the Judges Code of Conduct. The council noted that judges of the Supreme Court and high courts had faced allegations that were subsequently publicized. Many judges expressed concerns about the public allegations, and the SJC determined that responding to baseless allegations would not violate the Judges Code of Conduct. The amendment to Article 5 addresses these concerns.

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Regarding other judges, the SJC deliberated on six complaints and found that no action was required against judges for five out of the six complaints. However, a notice was issued to a judge of the Balochistan High Court in response to a complaint, directing the judge to submit a reply within 14 days.

Justice Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi had announced his resignation from the Supreme Court on January 10, 2024, amid allegations of misconduct. In a letter addressed to President Arif Alvi, Justice Naqvi stated that he found it untenable to continue as a Supreme Court judge given the public knowledge and recent circumstances, emphasizing the importance of due process considerations in his decision.