ISLAMABAD: After pursuing his own case of removal as a senior judge of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) for over three years, Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui has finally decided to start law practice.

       Mr Siddiqui will pursue cases of his clients in the Supreme Court, all high courts and Shariat Court.

       “I am re-starting my practice as a lawyer from Monday,” Mr Siddiqui told Dawn on Saturday.

       The ousted judge of the high court said he had taken many cases of his clients and started studying them.

       “Before becoming a judge, I was a successful lawyer and I am glad that I am re-starting my practice,” he added.

       President Arif Alvi removed Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui as a judge of the IHC on Oct 11, 2018 after the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) recommended his removal for being guilty of misconduct over a speech he delivered in July that year before the Rawalpindi District Bar Association.

       The SJC is a constitutional forum that examines the conduct of superior court judges and then recommends their removal from the top post.

       While addressing an audience at the Rawalpindi bar, Justice Siddiqui had reportedly claimed that personnel of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) were manipulating judicial proceedings.

       On Nov 24 this year, the Supreme Court restored the licence of Justice Siddiqui as an advocate and therefore he decided to resume law practice after a long interval from tomorrow (Monday).

       “I have over seven years of experience as a judge, 23 years as a lawyer and almost three-and-a-half years as a complainant in the Supreme Court,” he told Dawn.

       Mr Siddiqui is also establishing his office in the federal capital. “I live in F-11, therefore I am establishing my office near my home,” he added.

       Before becoming the IHC judge, Mr Siddiqui resided in Rawalpindi’s Gawalmandi area.

       Published in Dawn, December 12th, 2021