Supreme Court Summons Registrar of Lahore High Court in Case Involving Arshad Malik’s Widow’s Pension Request
Islamabad:The Supreme Court of Pakistan has summoned the Registrar of Lahore High Court to appear in person at the next hearing in a petition filed by the widow of former accountability court judge Arshad Malik, seeking pension benefits.
The constitutional bench of the Supreme Court issued a notice to the Registrar of Lahore High Court, instructing them to appear in person at the next hearing.
The petitioner’s lawyer argued that Judge Arshad Malik had been dismissed by the Lahore High Court, while he had been hearing references involving political figures. Justice Hassan Azhar Rizvi remarked that it was inappropriate for a judge to meet political figures privately.
The lawyer further stated that an appeal against Malik’s dismissal was still pending at the time of his death. The lawyer’s argument also stated that, under the law, only the affected judge could file a review or appeal, not the widow. However, on humanitarian grounds, the petitioner requested that Arshad Malik’s dismissal be converted to forced retirement.
Judge Arshad Malik had made controversial decisions in the Al-Azizia and Flagship references against former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Later, Arshad Malik was dismissed following a video scandal that raised concerns over his impartiality.
