ISLAMABAD: Justice Mazahir Ali Naqvi of Supreme Court of Pakistan, against whom a corruption reference was pending in the Supreme Judicial Council, resigned on Wednesday.
The case against the judge was related to his possession of assessts beyond known sources of income.
In November, the SJC took up the case and issued a show-cause notice to the judge.
Chaired by Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Qazi Faez Isa, the SJC had dismissed a complaint filed by Lahore-based human rights activist Amna Masood against another judge, Justice Sardar Tariq Masood.
The SJC in November reviewed the allegations based on documents and issued a second show-cause notice to Justice Mazahir Naqvi.
In the show-cause notice, Justice Naqvi was asked to filed his replies to 10 allegations against him in 14 days.
Sources said that SC Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, Justices Sardar Tariq, Amir Bhatti and Naeem Afgan supported the show-cause notice, while Justice Ijazul Ahsan opposed it.
Justice Naqvi was issued a show-cause notice on October 27, but he didn’t file his replies and as a result the SJC issued him the notice again.
Justice Naqvi has in the meantime filed a petition in the Supreme Court challenging the reference against him in the SJC.
The petition claimed that the reference against him was an attack on the independence of judiciary.
The judge had stated that the SJC could initiate proceedings against a judge on the complaint on someone. He had also raised objections on the chief justice and the attorney general.
Justice Naqvi submitted his resignation to President Arif Ali on Wednesday.
The resignation stated, “It was an honour to be appointed and to serve as a judge first of the Lahore High Court and then as the Supreme Court of Pakistan. In the circumstances which are a matter of public knowledge and to some extent public record, it is no longer possible for me to continue to serve as a judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan,” Justice Naqvi said.
“Considerations of due process also compel. I, therefore, effective today resign as judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan,” he added.
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