Sacked judge Siddiqui moves SC for early hearing of dismissal case

ISLAMABAD - Former Islamabad High Court's (IHC) Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui has moved the Supreme Court of Pakistan seeking early hearing of his petition filed against his dismissal.

President Arif Alvi had terminated services of Mr Siddiqui after the Supreme Judicial Council, on Oct 11, found him guilty of misconduct over a speech he delivered at the Rawalpindi Bar Association.

The sacked judged filed the petition for early hearing of the case on Friday. He has made the federation, through Ministry of Law, and Supreme Judicial Council parties in his petition.

In his petition, Mr Siddiqui contended that he had been sacked without a due process and without [the SJC] fulfilling legal prerequisites.

No inquiry had been conducted into my remarks regarding alleged interference by the country’s premier spy agency in the judicial proceedings, Siddiqui had contended.

He also pleaded the court for declaring the notification of his dismissal null and void and reinstating him on the position of a permanent judge.

Mr Siddiqui had, in his speech, alleged that the country's spy agency was meddling into the affairs of judiciary and benches were formed at the directives issued by the state institutions.

Supreme Judicial Council had taken notice of his speech, following which he was sacked. Another reference was also pending against him regarding the renovation of official residence.