23 February 2023
By Rehan Piracha
LAHORE
A complaint has been filed against Supreme Court Justice Syed Mazahar Ali Naqvi in the Supreme Judicial Council for allegedly violating the code of conduct for the apex judiciary.
“….Mr Justice Syed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi, Supreme Court of Pakistan, has violated the Code of Conduct for Judges of the Supreme Court issued under Clause (8) of Article 209 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan,” Mian Dawood, a Lahore-based lawyer, said in his complaint addressed to Chief Justice of Pakistan, chairperson of the SJC. The complaint was submitted to the SJC office on Thursday.
The petitioner accused the judge of alleged misconduct, corruption, alteration of tax details, nepotism, and favoritism for a political party. He has requested for initiation of an inquiry to look into the allegations against Justice Mazahar Ali Naqvi.
According to the complaint, the judge had violated Article III and IV of the code of conduct relating to a judge being above approach and should refrain from using his official position to gain any undue advantage.
Recently, a controversy arose when an alleged audio conversation between former Punjab chief minister of Punjab Pervaiz Elahi and Justice Mazahar Naqvi was leaked to the public.
Following the audio leak, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, which heads the ruling federal government coalition, raised questions on the impartiality of Justice Naqvi. Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah had said party lawyers would request the Supreme Court not to make Justice Mazahar a part of the benches hearing cases related to the PML-N.
On the other hand, the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) had also indicated after the alleged audio leak that they would file a reference against Justice Mazahar in the Supreme Judicial Council. Speaking to Voicepk.net, Hassan Raza Pasha, chairman of the PBC executive committee, said the complaint filed by the lawyer related to assets beyond means while the bar council’s reference would focus on the judge’s conduct in the light of the audio leak.
Meanwhile, senior advocate and Pakistan Peoples Party stalwart Latif Khosa have opposed the bar council’s decision to file a reference against Justice Mazahar. Speaking in the Spotlight with Munizae Jahangir show on February 22, Khosa said the PBC should not have announced that it was filing a judicial reference as it looked the council was acting as a spokesperson for a political party, adding that the country could ill afford any aspersions on the judiciary in these critical times. Responding to Khosa’s remarks, Pasha said the decision to file a reference was a collective decision of all the provincial and federal bar councils. “The decision came after the collective wisdom of the legal fraternity and not just certain individuals,” Pasha said.
Text of Code of Conduct for Judges
The prime duty of a Judge as an individual is to present before the public an image of justice of the nation. As a member of his court, that duty is brought within the disciplines appropriate to a corporate body.
The Constitution, by declaring that all authority exercisable by the people is a sacred trust from Almighty Allah, makes it plain that the justice of this nation is of Divine origin. It connotes full implementation of the high principles, which are woven into the Constitution, as well as the universal requirements of natural justice. The oath of a Judge implies complete submission to the Constitution, and under the Constitution to the law. Subject to these governing obligations, his function of interpretation and application of the Constitution and the Law is to be discharged for the maintenance of the Rule of Law over the whole range of human activities within the nation.
To be a living embodiment of these powers, functions, and obligations calls for the possession of the highest qualities of intellect and character. Equally, it imposes patterns of behavior, which are the hallmark of distinction of a Judge among his fellow men. In this code, an attempt is made to indicate certain traditional requirements of behavior in the Judges of the Superior Courts, conducive to the achievement of a standard of justice worthy of the nation.
ARTICLE- I
On equiponderance stand the heavens and the earth. By equiponderance, oppression meaning unjust and unequal burdens is removed. The Judge’s task is to ensure that such equality should prevail in all things.
ARTICLE- II
A Judge should be God-fearing, law-abiding, abstemious, truthful of tongue, wise in opinion, cautious and forbearing, blameless, and untouched by greed. While dispensing justice, he should be strong without being rough, polite without being weak, awe inspires in his warnings and faithful to his word, always preserving calmness, balance and complete detachment, for the formation of correct conclusions in all matters coming before him. In the matter of taking his seat and of rising from his seat, he shall be punctilious in point of time, mindful of the courtesies, careful to preserve the dignity of the Court, while maintaining an equal aspect towards all litigants as well as lawyers appearing before him.
ARTICLE- III
To be above reproach, and for this purpose to keep his conduct in all things, ‘official and private, free from impropriety is expected of a Judge.
ARTICLE- IV
A Judge must decline resolutely to act in a case involving his own interest, including those of persons whom he regards and treats as near relatives or close friend. A Judge must rigidly refrain from entering into or continuing any business dealing, howsoever unimportant it may be, with any party to a case before him. Should the dealing be unavoidable, he must discontinue his connection with the case forthwith. A judge must refuse to deal with any case in which he has a connection with one party or its lawyer more than the other, or even with both parties and their lawyers. To ensure that justice is not only done, but is also seen to be done, a Judge must avoid all possibility of his opinion or action, in any case, being swayed by any consideration of personal advantage, either direct or indirect.
ARTICLE- V
Functioning as he does in full view of the public, a Judge gets thereby all the publicity that is good for him. He should not seek more. In particular, he should not engage in any public controversy, least of all on a political question, notwithstanding that it involves a question of law.
ARTICLE- VI
A Judge should endeavor to avoid, as far as possible, being involved, either on his own behalf or on behalf of others, in litigation or in matters which are liable to lead to litigation such as industry, trade or speculative transactions. To employ the influence of his position to gain undue advantage, whether immediate or future, is a grave fault. A Judge must avoid incurring financial or other obligations to private institutions or persons such as may embarrass him in the performance of his functions.
ARTICLE- VII
Extra-Judicial duties or responsibilities, official or private, should be generally avoided. He should equally avoid being a candidate, for any elective office in any organization whatsoever.
ARTICLE- VIII
Gifts are to be received only from near relatives and close friends, and only such as are customary. Everything in the way of favours in consequence of the office must be refused. In accepting any entertainment offered, whether general or particular, care should be taken that its real purpose does not conflict with a Judge’s duty to maintain detachment from likely litigants, and from partisan activity.
ARTICLE- IX
In his judicial work, and his relations with other Judges, a Judge should act always for the maintenance of harmony within his own Court, as well as among all Courts and for the integrity of the institution of justice. Disagreement with the opinion of any Judge, whether of equal or of inferior status, should invariably be expressed in terms of courtesy and restraint.
ARTICLE- X
In this judicial work a Judge shall take all steps to decide cases within the shortest time, controlling effectively efforts made to prevent early disposal of cases and make every endeavor to minimize the suffering of litigants by deciding cases expeditiously through proper written judgments. A Judge who is unmindful or indifferent towards this aspect of his duty is not faithful to his work, which is a grave fault.
ARTICLE- XI
No Judge of the superior judiciary shall render support in any manner whatsoever, including taking or administering an oath in violation of the oath, of office prescribed in the Third Schedule to the Constitution, to any authority that acquires power otherwise than through the modes envisaged by the Constitution of Pakistan.
