The Supreme Court of Pakistan has removed Additional Registrar Judicial Nazar Abbas from his post for failing to assign a case to the designated bench despite a court order. An official statement released by the Supreme Court announced the dismissal, citing a serious error on the part of Abbas.

The statement details that Abbas incorrectly assigned a case intended for a constitutional bench to a regular bench. This action, the statement asserts, resulted in a waste of the Supreme Court’s time and resources, as well as those of the parties involved.

Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, in comments reported alongside the statement, expressed concerns, stating that If a decision is perceived as being against the government, the case is withdrawn from the bench. He added taht the independence of the judiciary has been undermined.

While Justice Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Aqeel Abbasi initially heard the contempt of court proceedings against Abbas, the Registrar of the Supreme Court appeared in court due to Abbas’s illness leave. The Registrar acknowledged the error in the case assignment, assuring the court that there was no malicious intent in de-listing the case from the constitutional bench.

However, the statement clarifies that Abbas’s actions were in direct contradiction to the orders of the Regular Benches Committee. Despite the Registrar’s explanation, the Supreme Court proceeded with the dismissal of the Additional Registrar Judicial.