Daily Times

Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui of the Islamabad High Court has excused himself from attending a workshop at a university in England citing serious life threats to his family.

In a letter addressed to IHC Chief Justice Muhammad Anwar Khan Kasi, the judge known for his hardline positions on issues as diverse as blasphemy and alleged extra-constitutional role of state institution has regretted that he won’t be able to attend the Human Rights and the Rule of Law workshop to be held at Hull University in Manchester from August 8-18. He has stated in the letter, a copy of which is circulating on social media platforms, that he and his family are serious life threats. He has also referred to a fresh show-cause notice issued to him by the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) among reasons behind his refusal.

IHC Chief Justice Kasi had nominated Justice Siddiqui for the workshop. The IHC justice is facing a show-cause notice over a speech he reportedly gave at the district bar of Rawalpindi where he claimed that the judiciary was under pressure from elements in state institutions. He has been asked to file his response by August 29. Commenting on the matter the next day, Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Saqib Nisar had observed, “I read about the remarks of a judge in Islamabad and was deeply saddened,” He maintained that the was completely independent and not working under anyone’s pressure.

The armed forces also reacted to the statement in a press release, noting, “An honourable judge of Islamabad High Court of Pakistan has levelled serious allegations against state institutions including honourable judiciary and the premier state intelligence agency.”

Earlier, the SJC had issued a show cause notice to Justice Siddqui over his comments on the Faizabad dharna led by the far-right Tehrik-e-Labbaik. The judge had expressed displeasure at the armed forces role in brokering an agreement with the clerics leading the protest that had brought life in the twin cities to a standstill.

Additionally, Justice Siddiqui also faces a reference on misconduct moved on the complaint by a retired employee of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) for alleged refurbishment of his official residence beyond entitlement.

Published in Daily Times, August 4^th 2018.