Sindh CJ refuses to accept appointment as apex court ad hoc judge

KARACHI: Sindh High Court Chief Justice Ahmed Ali M Sheikh on Monday refused to take oath as an ad hoc judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

Earlier in the day, a notification bearing No. F. 2(1)/2021 was issued from the office of President of Pakistan appointing Justice Sheikh as an ad hoc judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan for a period of one year.

In two separate letters addressed to the president and chief justice of Pakistan, Justice Sheikh said that the notification (of his appointment) has been issued without lawful authority.

In the letter written to President Arif Alvi Justice Sheikh said: “Please note that it is a sine quo non for issuing such a notification that the consent of the Chief Justice of concerned High Court be obtained.”

Justice Sheikh wrote to the president he had categorically through three letters of August 5, 6 and 10 refused such consent.

He stated that the notification under reference “has, therefore, been issued without lawful authority and is of no legal effect”.

Informing Chief Justice of Pakistan Gulzar Ahmed that he had sent a letter to the president, Justice Sheikh wrote him: “This notification was issued in spite of the fact that I consistently and repeatedly declined to give my consent to attend the sittings of honourable Supreme Court as an ad hoc judge. I therefore, state that the notification has been issued without lawful authority and is of no legal effect.”

Justice Sheikh informed both the president and the chief justice that he would not attend sitting of the Supreme Court as an ad hoc judge nor would he be attending an oath-taking ceremony scheduled in this regard to take place of August 17, 2021.