ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday that procedures launched by the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) cannot be discontinued, even if a judge resigns or retires.
A five-member bigger bench, led by Justice Amin-ud-din Khan, released the brief verdict and partially accepted the federal government’s intra-court appeal (ICA) against its 2023 judgment in Afia Sheharbano Zia’s case.
The court also featured Justices Jamal Khan Mandokhel, Hassan Azhar Rizvi, Musarrat Hilali, and Irfan Saadat Khan.
“Both the appeals are partially allowed to the extent that if the proceedings have already been initiated by the Supreme Judicial Council (‘SJC’) against a Judge, same shall not abate on his resignation or retirement, as the case may be, during such proceedings,”In Afia Sheharbano Zia’s case, the Supreme Court ruled that judges who retire or resign are not subject to Article 209 of the Constitution, which governs misconduct of superior court judges.In a brief decision issued today, the Supreme Court held that it is up to the SJC to proceed against a judge in a pending complaint.
