Despite having received a show-cause notice, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has filed a complaint against Additional and Sessions Judge Zeba Chaudhry through Shehbaz Gill’s brother to initiate proceedings of misconduct requesting disciplinary action against ADSJ Zeba Chaudhry for the commission of misconduct.
According to the complaint, the lady judge passed the order on August 17 in “grave violation and derogation of judicial norms”. It also stated that the act of conducting the proceedings was “gross misconduct, illegal and with mala fide intentions”. The grave incompetence, negligence and noticeable partiality of ADSJ Zeba Chaudhry were not covered under the umbrella of indemnity for the protection of a judicial officer, the complaint said.
The complaint, filed by Advocate Ali Ijaz Buttar, has stated that judge Zeba Chaudhry was closely affiliated with the ruling party and her husband was an ex-MPA (member of the provincial assembly) of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP).
The complaint has also said the judgment was passed violating the basic principles of law. The husband of the female judge, Mujtaba Sherazi, had made negative and direct comments about the brother of the complainant and according to the norms and procedure, judge Zeba Chaudhry should have refused to hear the case, the complaint stated.
The complainant has also argued that the judge had shown ignorance of Section 167 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) while hearing the plea for physical remand. The section demands the presence of the accused.
According to the complaint, the medical report of Adiala jail also endorsed physical and medical torture.
Gill’s brother Yaseen Gill filed the complaint with the chief justice of Islamabad High Court (IHC) and a member of the court’s inspection team (MIT), stating that on behalf of his brother, who being in custody was unable to move the complaint against the judicial officer, he was filing a complaint and after getting bail, Shahbaz would himself pursue the matter before the honourable forum.
Shehbaz Gill also filed a post-arrest bail for which the court issued notice to the police and has sought records.
