Justice Siqqiqui of Islamabad High Court already faces two damning references filed against him in Supreme Judicial Council (SJC).

JUL 22, 2018: Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar on Sunday took notice of Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui’s startling criticism of the country’s military and the premier intelligence agencies on Saturday.

On Sunday also, the military’s media wing ISPR issued statement along with tweet that said, “Honorable Supreme Court of Pakistan has been requested to initiate appropriate process to ascertain the veracity of the allegations levelled against state institutions.”

The controversial judge of Islamabad High Court, while addressing the Rawalpindi Bar Association on Saturday, had claimed that the agency’s personnel were manipulating judicial proceedings against the Sharif family.

“Their [the agency’s] personnel get benches formed at their will,” Justice Siddiqui had alleged.

He had further claimed that the spy agency had approached IHC Chief Justice Muhammad Anwar Khan Kasi and said: “‘We do not want to let Nawaz Sharif and his daughter come out [of the prison] until elections, do not include Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui on the bench [hearing Sharifs’ appeals]’.”

“I know who takes whose message to the Supreme Court,” Justice Siddiqui had further said.

He had asked: “Why was the administrative control of the accountability court taken away from the Islamabad High Court?”

He had further alleged that the judiciary’s freedom has been divested and that it is now in control of “those with guns”.

“I was told that ‘if you assure us of decisions in our favor, we will end references against you’,” Justice Siddiqui, who faces a corruption reference later this month, had claimed.

According to reports, the reference against Justice Siddiqui is pending in Supreme Judicial Council over alleged misuse of authority. The outburst against the military and the Judiciary is meant to make any order against him controversial.

Former director of the Capital Development Authority (CDA), Muhammad Anwar Gopang, had filed a reference against Justice Siddiqui. The contents of the reference include:

CJ Nisar, who is on a day-long visit to Karachi, told reporters: “Being the top judge, I am making it abundantly clear that there is no pressure on us. We are working under the supremacy of the Constitution and the law.”

“Such statements are inconceivable and unacceptable,” he continued, adding that he will take into consideration all possible legal actions on the matter.

He assured reporters that legal action would be taken and the facts of the matter brought before the public.

“No one can dare put pressure on the judiciary,” he said, clarifying that he wanted to apprise the public in their own interest, not because there was any pressure on the judiciary to do so.

Another reference against Justice Siddiqui is pending at the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC). In the second reference, the SJC is reviewing his critical comments regarding the role of the army in last year’s Faizabad sit-in led by the Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan.

The SJC will be holding an inquiry against Justice Siddiqui with regard to the above-mentioned references, which, unlike past SJC inquisitions, will be conducted in an open court.