In a surprising turn of events Justice Ijaz Ul Ahsan has resigned. After Mazahir Ali Naqvi, this is the second resignation from the Supreme Court. Both judges were part of the infamous “hum khayal” group of judges led by former CJP Bandial.
Ahsan was expected to become the next chief justice of Pakistan after the current chief justice, Qazi Faez Isa. However, he has now sent his resignation to President Arif Alvi, leaving people curious about the reasons for his unexpected departure.
This resignation follows the recent resignation of retired Justice Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi, which has already been accepted by the president.
Ahsan was in line to become the chief justice, the top judicial position in the country with significant authority, after CJP Isa’s term ended in October. However, his resignation raises questions about the timing of his departure.
Ijaz ul Ahsan – Part of “Hum Khayal” Group
Both Ahsan and Naqvi were known to be close to former Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial. Analysts have pointed out that these judges were involved in issuing controversial orders, along with another judge, Justice Munib Akhtar.
References Against Ijaz ul Ahsan
According to senior journalist Hamid Mir, there were two references being prepared against Ahsan, and it’s possible that he got wind of them, prompting him to resign to avoid accountability.
Some experts view this as a positive development, as it signifies a new trend of accountability for Supreme Court judges facing references filed by lawyers.
However, senior anchorperson Shahzeb Khanzada raises concerns about why someone who was set to become the Chief Justice in just 10 months would resign prematurely. He suggests that if Ahsan feared facing charges, he should have stayed in office and faced them like Qazi Faez Isa did.
In April of this year, a lawyer filed a reference against then-Chief Justice Bandial and three other judges, including Ahsan, based on an alleged violation of the Code of Conduct for judges. Ahsan was part of the bench that disqualified Nawaz Sharif based on the Panama Papers.
Ahsan’s judicial decisions, especially regarding Article 62(1)(f) disqualification and interpreting Article 63-A during a no-confidence vote against former Prime Minister Imran Khan, have been controversial. Legal expert Reema Omer notes that Ahsan’s jurisprudence has often been criticized, and he has not issued orders worthy of praise.
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