The Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) of Pakistan, led by Chief Justice Qazi Faez, concluded that the complaint filed against Justice Sardar Tariq Masood had “no substance” and dismissed it. The decision came after a meeting convened to review complaints against apex court judges.
The SJC found the complaint, filed by Amna Malik, to be malicious and aimed at defaming Justice Masood, leading to its dismissal.
Justice Sardar Tariq Masood, having faced public defamation due to the complaint, requested that the SJC take action against Amna Malik and M Siddique, who circulated the complaint on social media. Justice Masood argued for his public exoneration, considering the public nature of the defamation he endured. The SJC noted that Malik admitted the inaccuracy of her allegations and should not have filed the complaint.
The SJC notified M Siddique, who had posted the complaint on Twitter, to explain within seven days. The Council sought to determine whether Siddique was responsible for the tweet and, if so, why he should not face legal action or the consequences suggested by Justice Masood. This step reflects the Council’s commitment to addressing the misuse of social media in defaming judiciary members.
