SC throws out presidential reference against Justice Qazi Faez Isa, terms it 'invalid'.

ISLAMABAD -- The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Friday dismissed the presidential reference against Justice Qazi Faez Isa in the Supreme Judicial Council and accepted his petition seeking the reference's dismissal.

"[The reference] is declared to be of no legal effect whatsoever and stands quashed, and in consequence thereof the proceedings pending in the Supreme Judicial Council against the Petitioner in CP 17/2019 (including the show-cause notice dated 17.07.2019 issued to him) stand abated," read the court's short order.

The SJC had initiated the proceedings over Justice Isa's alleged non-disclosure in wealth returns of three London properties acquired on lease in the name of his wife and children between 2011 and 2015.

A ten-member larger bench of the apex court headed by Justice Umar Ata Bandial and comprising Justice Maqbool Baqar, Justice Manzoor Ahmad Malik, Justice Faisal Arab, Justice Mazhar Alam Khan Miankhel, Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice Sajjad Ali Shah, Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Yahya Afridi and Justice Qazi Muhammad Amin Ahmed heard the case, reserving the verdict before it was announced after 4pm.

Justice Yahya Afridi sole judge to dissent from verdict

All information collected by authorities on London properties declared null and void

7 of 10 judges on bench order Federal Board of Revenue to review documents submitted by Justice Isa's wife

Income tax commissioner directed to send notices to Justice Isa's wife, children in London within 7 days

Wife, children to respond with explanation of nature and sources of funds used to acquire properties

Proceedings will not be delayed over unavailability of a respondent, so reply must be submitted timely

Proceedings to conclude within 60 days of receiving notices, order to be issued within 75 days by commissioner

FBR chairman to submit entire record of proceedings to SJC

If no report by the chairman is received within 100 days of the court order, SJC will demand explanation

The case was wrapped up after Justice Isa's spouse provided the money trail pertaining to her foreign properties and the Federal Board of Revenue provided its input on the matter.

Justice Isa, in his petition challenging the reference, had requested that the apex court declare that the Asset Recovery Unit (ARU) formed by the government to look into the properties had no legal standing and therefore the actions taken by the unit with regard to the reference against him and his family are illegal.

The...