ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) has closed a misconduct inquiry against Islamabad High Court (IHC) Judge Muhammad Asif, dismissing allegations that he improperly influenced a hit-and-run case involving his underage son.
The incident occurred on December 2 last year, when a black SUV, allegedly driven by Justice Asif’s son, struck two girls on a scooter near the Pakistan National Council of Arts in Islamabad, resulting in their deaths. The judge’s son was detained following the incident and later released on December 6 by a judicial magistrate after the victims’ families pardoned him under provisions of the Pakistan Penal Code related to retribution (*qisas*) and blood money (*diyat*).
The SJC, a constitutional body tasked with investigating superior court judges’ conduct, deliberated the matter during its May 14 meeting before notifying the complainant, retired Colonel Inamur Rahim, of its decision. However, the council has not publicly disclosed the specific grounds for dismissing the complaint.
In his December 29 complaint, Rahim alleged that Justice Asif used his judicial authority to pressure the victims’ families for personal benefit, stating: “The respondent (Justice Asif), by abusing the influence of his office, allegedly employed state machinery to exert pressure upon the legal heirs of the victims for his personal advantage.” The complaint further claimed that bail was granted to the judge’s son through secretive in-camera proceedings held outside regular court hours, aiming to present the case as compoundable.
With the dismissal of the complaint, the SJC’s proceedings against Justice Asif have concluded, allowing him to retain his position on the IHC bench. Similar controversies have emerged in the past, including a 2022 case where an SUV allegedly driven by the daughter of a Lahore High Court judge caused fatalities near the Sohan Bridge on the Islamabad Expressway. A 2024 investigation later revealed the vehicle belonged to Supreme Court Justice Malik Shahzad Ahmed. In February 2025, a local court acquitted Shanzay Malik, the Supreme Court judge’s daughter, after her legal team filed an acquittal application.
