'Certain powers' were out to get ex-judge Shaukat Siddiqui, SC told.

ISLAMABAD -- Senior counsel Hamid Khan on Monday claimed that former prime minister Imran Khan still regretted filing a reference against Justice Qazi Faez Isa with the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) over the judge's alleged failure to disclose properties in London.

'Imran Khan believes he was misled by some party members while he was not inclined to moving a reference against Justice Isa,' Hamid Khan, a disgruntled leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), quoted party chairman Imran Khan as saying while talking to Dawn after his arguments before a five-judge Supreme Court bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial. The former prime minister had to succumb to the inappropriate advice, Hamid Khan said.

The PTI chief had more than once during various interactions conceded that filing the reference against Justice Isa was a mistake.

The bench had taken up an appeal of Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui against an opinion of the SJC as well as the Oct 11, 2018 notification under which he was removed as the superior court judge over his July 21, 2018 speech at the Rawalpindi District Bar Association.

Hamid Khan says Imran still regrets filing reference against Justice Isa

On Monday, Hamid Khan furnished before the Supreme Court written formulations stating that there were overwhelming facts and circumstances in the present case that certain powers were annoyed and antagonistic towards Shaukat Siddiqui as a judge and they were out to get him, whatever it might take.

In his speech, the former judge had made remarks about the alleged involvement of certain state officials, specifically from the country's premier intelligence agency, in the affairs of the judiciary to manipulate the formation of benches of the high court.

The SJC had in its recommendations held that by making the speech, Justice Siddiqui had not only violated the code of conduct, but also displayed a conduct unbecoming of a judge and thus violated the traditional requirements of the behaviour expected of a superior court judge.

Hamid Khan, who held a 90-minute meeting with Imran Khan at the latter's Banigala residence on Sunday, recalled he had asked the former premier not to file the reference, and even if it was moved, he should consider withdrawing it without wasting any time. But Imran preferred to wait for the outcome of the reference, which was eventually quashed by the Supreme Court, he said, and later regretted he should have heeded to the suggestion.

When asked if...

To continue reading

Request your trial

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT