Daily Times

The Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) on Saturday made it clear that a total of 28 references, including the recently filed two references, are pending which are under adjudication and will be disposed of in due course of time.

Dispelling an impression of pendency of 350 references in the SJC, the top court’s spokesperson said there are only 28 references pending for adjudication, including the two presidential references recently filed against two superior court judges.

“Since the last few days, discussions on electronic and print media convey an impression that around 350 references are pending with the Supreme Judicial Council. The figures repeatedly quoted by various people are not only erroneous but also misleading and contrary to the facts,” a statement issued by the spokesperson read. “A total of 426 complaints/references were received in the SJC. All the references were processed and after going through various stages of process as per ‘The Supreme Judicial Council Procedure of Enquiry 2005’, as many as 398 cases have been disposed of,” it continued. “Only 28 cases, including the two presidential references, are pending before the SJC. All the cases are in process and will be disposed of in due course of time,” it added.

Earlier, executive member of the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) Raheel Kamran Shiekh had approached the SC, seeking complete details of complaints and references filed against judges. However, the top court had turned down Kamran’s plea.

Sheikh had said that process of the judicial accountability must be made more open, transparent and across the board to inspire public confidence and ensure independence of the judiciary. “Therefore, the demands made by the apex bar for disclosures and against selective accountability must be fulfilled before we can fully trust the process,” he had stated.