Reference filed against eight judges including CJP in SJC

Islamabad: A reference had been filed in the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) against eight judges of the Supreme Court including Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Atta Bandial, reportedly.

According to media reports, the reference was filed by Advocate Mian Dawood on the basis of Article 209 of the Constitution and Sections 3-6 and nine of the Judges' Code of Conduct.

In addition to Chief Justice Umar Atta Bandial, the names of Justice Ijazul Hassan, Justice Muneeb Akhtar, Justice Mazhar Naqvi, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, Justice Ayesha A. Malik, Justice Hasan Azhar Rizvi and Justice Shahid Waheed are included in the reference.

The reference said: “The powers were exceeded by appointing the already approved bill of the Parliament for hearing,” adding that an eight-member unconstitutional bench was formed to hear the bill of the Parliament.

It is further stated in the reference that the injunction against ‘Supreme Court Practice and Procedure Bill’ is a violation of judicial principles.

The copies of the reference against the judges has been sent to Justice Faiz Isa, Justice Tariq Masood, Justice Mansoor, Chief Justice Sindh High Court (SHC) and Chief Justice Lahore High Court (LHC).