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

Two girls travelling on a scooter were killed when a black SUV, driven at high speed allegedly by Justice Asif’s son, struck them near the Pakistan National Council of Arts on Dec 2, 2025.

The judge’s son was remanded in police custody after the incident. A judicial magistrate ordered his release on Dec 6 after the victims’ families pardoned him in court, in accordance with provisions relating to qisas (retribution) and diyat (blood money) under the Pakistan Penal Code.

The SJC, which is the constitutional body empowered to inquire into the conduct of superior court jud­ges and recommend removal to the president if misconduct is proved, took up the matter in its May 14 me­eting and subsequently notified retired colonel Inam­­­ur Rahim, who was the complainant, of its decision.

However, the SJC did not make the detailed reasons for dismissing the complaint public.

According to the complaint, filed to the SJC on Dec 29, last year, Justice Asif was accused of misusing his position to influence the investigation and subsequent legal proceedings 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 alleged.

“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.”

With the dismissal of the complaint, the SJC proceedings against Justice Asif now stand concluded, and he continues to serve on the IHC bench.

A similar case was reported in 2022 as well, when an SUV allegedly driven by the daughter of a then-LHC judge ran over two persons near the Sohan bridge on the Islamabad Expressway.

Published in Dawn, June 30th, 2026