SJC dismisses complaint against IHC judge over son’s hit-and-run case

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) has dismissed a complaint against Islamabad High Court (IHC) judge Muhammad Asif, ending proceedings over allegations that he used his office to affect the handling of a hit-and-run case involving his underage son.

The matter relates to an incident on December 2 last year, when a black sports utility vehicle travelling at high speed, allegedly driven by Justice Asif’s son, hit two girls riding a scooter near the Pakistan National Council of Arts in Islamabad. Both girls died in the collision. After the incident, the judge’s son was placed in police custody on remand.

A judicial magistrate later ordered his release on December 6, 2025, after the victims’ families pardoned him in court under the qisas and diyat provisions of the Pakistan Penal Code. The SJC, the constitutional forum authorised to examine the conduct of superior court judges and recommend removal to the president if misconduct is established, considered the complaint at its meeting on May 14 and later informed the complainant, retired Colonel Inamur Rahim, of its decision.

The council did not make public the detailed reasons for rejecting the complaint. With the complaint thrown out, proceedings against Justice Asif have concluded and he remains part of the IHC bench.

Complaint allegations

In his complaint, filed on December 29, Rahim alleged that Justice Asif had misused his office to shape the investigation and the subsequent legal process in the case.

“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 stated.

“Consequently, bail was granted to his son by the Area … Magistrate on [Dec 6] in a secretive manner, whereby statements of compromise were recorded after court hours through in-camera proceedings, with the apparent objective of portraying the case as compoundable,” it further alleged.

The SJC’s decision means those allegations will not proceed further before the council.

Reference to another hit-and-run case

A similar case had also drawn attention in 2022, when an SUV allegedly driven by the daughter of a then-Lahore High Court judge ran over two people near Sohan bridge on the Islamabad Expressway. The investigation in that matter remained stalled for a long period.

In July 2024, Islamabad Inspector General of Police Ali Nasir Rizvi informed the IHC that the vehicle involved in that hit-and-run case had been driven by a woman and was being used by Supreme Court Justice Malik Shahzad Ahmed. In February 2025, a local court in Islamabad acquitted Shanzay Malik, the Supreme Court judge’s daughter. Judicial Magistrate Adnan Yousuf announced the verdict after accepting the acquittal plea filed by her legal team.