ISLAMABAD: Advocate Afnan Karim Kundi on Monday appeared before Justice Mohammad Anwar Khan Kasi of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) but instead of arguing the petition of Justice Mohammad Azim Khan Afridi, he informed the court that he would not be pleading the case.

He said due to difference of opinion with his client, he was withdrawing ‘the papers of attorney’ (wakalatnama), which means that officially he would no longer be representing Justice Afridi.

Outside the court room, Advocate Kundi told mediapersons that he differed with his client on certain aspects of the petition, and therefore took the decision of disassociating himself from the matter.

Subsequently, the court adjourned the matter till a date to be fixed by the registrar office.

Now under the legal process Justice Afridi would hire the services of a new lawyer.

Justice Afridi’s case is an ongoing crisis in the city’s judicial system.

The crisis erupted when he was not confirmed as regular judge by the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP), during a meeting on October 22.

Justice Afridi petitioned against the decision on October 31, requesting the court to summon Dr Faqir Hussain, JCP secretary, who is also the registrar Supreme Court of Pakistan, along with record of the commission’s proceedings to ascertain why he was not confirmed as judge.

Justice Afridi through this petition had indicated multiple factors that may have harmed his reputation or played a role while he was not confirmed as a regular judge.

The petition said that the former IHC Registrar Attiqueur Rehman had hatched a conspiracy against him by giving the impression that Justice Afridi played a role in his demotion.

The petitioner maintained that his daughter contested for the position of civil judge in the Islamabad judiciary and was also shortlisted, but a wrong impression was created that being the judge of IHC, he favoured his daughter.

According to the petition, some quarters also alleged that the petitioner took bribes in certain cases.

The petition contended that he is ready to face all those allegations and the secretary JCP be directed to appear before the court along with the record of commission’s proceedings of October 22. —A Reporter