SC Grants Research Officer More Time to Submit Documents in Harassment Petition
The Supreme Court on Monday granted senior research officer Dr Waseem Tariq additional time to submit documents in a petition related to alleged harassment, emphasizing that one should not serve as both the complainant and judge in the same matter.
A bench comprising Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail and Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan heard the petition.
The petitioner argued that he had been accused of harassment by employees of the Estate Office and that an inquiry had found no adverse findings against him. Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan noted that the issue at hand concerned a house allotment, suggesting that the petitioner might have exerted pressure.
Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail advised the petitioner to focus on his work. During the hearing, the court expressed dissatisfaction with the research officer for persistent interruptions.
“If you are not remaining silent before us, what role would you have been playing?” the judge remarked.
The petitioner explained that he was pursuing the matter due to an allegation against the Chief Justice's office. Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail stated that the petitioner should not be both the complainant and judge, adding that the court did not intend to favor him.
Noting that his reputation had been affected, the petitioner argued that he would not have continued in his job if it had been truly damaged. Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan responded that it would have been preferable if a lawyer had represented him.
The court granted the petitioner time to submit documents and adjourned the further hearing indefinitely.