President Arif Alvi on Friday accepted the resignation of Justice Justice Ijazul Ahsan.
President Alvi accepted the resignation of Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan on the advice of the caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar ul Haq Kakar.
President Arif Alvi accepted the resignation under Article 179 of the Constitution. Earlier, President Alvi accepted the resignation Justice Mazahir Ali Naqvi.
Read More: Justice Ijazul Ahsan resigns from his position after Justice Naqvi
Earlier. Supreme Court’s senior-most judge, Ijaz Ul Ahsan, resigned on Thursday, a day after Justice Mazahar Ali Naqvi resigned from office.
According to the sources, Justice Ijazul Ahsan has sent his written resignation to the President, Dr. Arif Alvi, but the text has not been revealed yet.
Justice Ijazul Hassan, the third-most senior judge on the Supreme Court, was notably absent from today's meeting of the Supreme Judicial Council. With his position in seniority, Justice Ejazul Hassan was considered the leading candidate for the role of Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, expected to assume the position in October 2024.
On March 10, 2024, Justice Sardar Tariq Masood, the second-most senior judge in the hierarchy, is set to retire. Following Justice Ijaz's resignation and Justice Sardar Tariq's retirement, Justice Mansoor will ascend to become the most senior judge on the Supreme Court.
Additionally, with Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa's anticipated retirement on October 25, 2024, Justice Mansoor Ali Shah is poised to step into the role of Chief Justice. These developments mark significant changes in the leadership structure of the Supreme Court.
Today, Justice Ejaz also recused himself from participating in the Supreme Judicial Council proceedings concerning Justice Mazahir Akbar Naqvi. It is noteworthy that Justice Mazahir Akbar Naqvi, who raised complaints of 'misconduct,' tendered his resignation a day ago.
Must Read: Supreme Court judge Justice Mazahar Ali Naqvi resigns
Justice Naqvi denies allegations
Justice Mazhar Naqvi submitted a detailed response to the show cause notice to the Supreme Judicial Council and denied the allegations against him.
He replied that the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) could take information against the judge but could not act on any complaint.
In his reply, Naqvi said that the orders issued by the Supreme Judicial Council were tantamount to contempt of the Rules. He noted that according to the rules, an informant to the Council has no role in the proceedings.
Justice Mazahir Ali Naqvi also objected to the appointment of the Attorney General as a prosecutor.
“A complainant is also pending before the Pakistan Bar Council. Attorney General’s complainant is the Chairman of Pakistan Bar Council while complaints of Bar Councils are filed on political and PDM government initiatives,” replied Justice Mazahir Naqvi.
Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) met the then Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on February 21.
Mazahir Naqvi objects appointment of AGP as prosecutor
“A complainant is also pending before the Pakistan Bar Council. Attorney General’s complainant is the Chairman of Pakistan Bar Council while complaints of Bar Councils are filed on political and PDM government initiatives,” replied Justice Mazahir Naqvi.
Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) met the then Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on February 21.
He said on the same day of the meeting with Shahbaz Sharif, the PBC approved the resolution to file the complaint.
He maintained that the order to call witnesses before submitting the answer to show cause is illegal. “Ghulam Mahmood Dogar's case could not have been fixed in front of him, it is an administrative matter,” he said.
Justice Mazahar Ali Naqvi said that he had not given any relief in the Ghulam Mehmood Dogar case.
“The allegation that anyone could approach me is completely,” he said.
“The value of a house located in St. Jones Park was estimated as per DC rate. No relief was given to a person named Zahid Rafique nor has anything to do with his business and Allied Plaza Gujranwala has no relation whatsoever,” he said in his reply submitted to the SC.