ISLAMABAD – The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Friday declared removal of former judge Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui of the Islamabad High Court null and void.
A SC five-member bench led by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa and comprising Justice Aminuddin Khan, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail, Justice Hasan Azhar Rizvi and Justice Irfan Saadat Khan announced 23-page verdict.
The top court also set aside recommendation of the Supreme Judicial Council against Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui.
The court held that the appeals of Justice Siddiqui against his removal are allowed, and that he be provided all benefits of a retired judge.
The court ruled that Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui cannot be reinstated, and due to the delay, his age exceeded 62 years, therefore, Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui should be considered a retired judge.
On January 23, the Supreme Court had reserved its decision on the appeal against the removal of former judge Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui. The CJP had remarked that the caution must be exercised to ensure that there is no disruption of constitutional balance between the institutions.
Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui was removed from the judiciary by the Supreme Judicial Council’s recommendations from the judicial office under Article 209 of the Constitution for adopting inappropriate behavior as a judge for delivering a speech at the District Bar Association Rawalpindi on July 21, 2018.
