Supreme Judicial Council moved against CJP

A lawyer moved the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) against Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Atta Bandial, 24NewsHD TV channel reported on Friday.

Advocate Raja Sabatin Khan has filed a complaint in the SJC, calling for the removal of the top judge.

The complaint against the CJP was filed in wake of the top court verdict in the Punjab poll case, stating the Supreme Court became controversial after the verdict and the top judge is stated to be involved in grouping in the judiciary, according to the complaint. Such misconduct demands the initiation of legal proceedings and the removal of the top judge, it was requested. 

The development comes a day after the National Assembly adopted a resolution rejecting the Supreme Court's verdict regarding holding Punjab elections on May 14. The resolution was moved by MNA Khalid Magsi, calling for not implementing the court decision which was against the law and the Constitution.

The resolution noted that the National Assembly on March 28 in a resolution had called on the Supreme Court to avoid "interfering" in political matters. It also noted that multiple sections of the society had called on the apex court to form a full court bench but it was ignored and only one political party was heard in the case.

“Completely ignoring the clear resolution of the Parliament and the majority decision of the four judges of the Supreme Court, the three-member special bench imposed a minority opinion, which is a violation of the traditions, precedents and procedures of the Supreme Court,” noted the resolution. It added that a minority was imposed on the majority.