A reference has been filed in the Supreme Judicial Council against eight judges of the Supreme Court including Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial.
Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial, Justice Ijazul Ahsan, Justice Muneeb Akhtar, Justice Mazahir Naqvi, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, Justice Ayesha A Malik, Justice Hassan Azhar Rizvi and Justice Shahid Waheed have been made respondents in the reference filed by Mian Dawood Advocate.
In the reference, it has been taken on the basis of Article 209 of the Constitution and Articles 3 to 6 and 9 of the Judges Code of Conduct that Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial exceeded his powers by fixing the bill passed by parliament for hearing. The Chief Justice formed an unconstitutional eight-member bench headed by him to hear the bill.
The text of the reference said that the Chief Justice himself headed the bench to hear the petitions and was guilty of misconduct. The eight judges violated the Constitution, the law and the Code of Conduct by hearing and suspending the Parliament Bill. The stay order against the Supreme Court Practice and Procedure Bill is in violation of Dr Mubashir Hassan case and Aitzaz Ahsan case, it said.
According to the text, Justice Ijazul Ahsan, Justice Muneeb, Justice Ayesha and Justice Shahid Waheed are likely to become chief justices in the future. By joining the eight-member bench, the four potential chief justices of the future were also found guilty of violating the Code of Conduct. The Chief Justice gave protection to Justice Mazahir Naqvi, who is facing corruption charges. By protecting Justice Mazahir Naqvi, the Chief Justice violated his oath, constitution and code of conduct.
It has been requested in the reference that the Supreme Judicial Council should order the dismissal of eight judges including Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial after inquiry.
A copy of the reference has been sent to Justice Qazi Faez Isa, Justice Sardar Tariq Masood and Justice Mansoor Ali Shah. Justice Mansoor Ali Shah will be the next member of the Supreme Judicial Council after the reference against Chief Justice Bandial and Justice Ijazul Ahsan.
Copies of the reference have also been sent to the Chief Justice Sindh High Court and Chief Justice Lahore High Court.
