From neighbour to adversary: Story of Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Sharif family

ISLAMABAD: Did Justice (R) Ijazul Ahsan hold any personal grudge against the Sharif family, as reflected in his judgments and remarks?

The News has discovered details of two incidents that may have fueled the judge’s animosity towards the Sharifs, possibly affecting his approach and decisions during his tenure. One incident behind Justice (R) Ijaz’s reported grudge against the Sharif family happened nearly 25 years ago, while a second ongoing issue continued fueling his resentment.

The Constitution of Pakistan requires judges to remain unbiased and show no ill-will towards anyone, as stated in their oath: “I will do right to all manner of people, according to law, without fear or favour, affection or ill-will.”

Justice Ijaz’s reported grudge against the Sharif family is linked to his elder brother, Major (R) Izharul Ahsan. Izhar, who served as Secretary of the Pakistan Steel Melters Association (PSMA), was appointed head of Marketing at Ittefaq Foundry in Lahore on PSMA’s recommendation. 

However, in the late 1990s, when Hussain Nawaz, the elder son of Nawaz Sharif, took charge of Ittefaq Foundry, he reviewed the performance of the senior management team, including Izhar ul Ahsan.

Sources revealed that Izhar ul Ahsan’s performance as marketing head was below average, leading to his immediate dismissal. He had been receiving generous perks, privileges, and a substantial salary before being removed from the position.

In 2013-14, Izhar ul Ahsan visited the Sharif family’s steel mill in Saudi Arabia, bringing along some businessmen. Without prior notice or an appointment, he entered Hussain Nawaz’s office. Hussain Nawaz responded coldly, reminding Izhar and his delegation that they should have informed him before arriving. This encounter reportedly strained their relationship further, adding to the tension between Justice Ijaz's Ahsan and the Sharif family.

Apart from firing his brother from Ittefaq Foundry, another ongoing issue has fueled tension between Justice Ijaz's and the Sharif family. The former judge is a neighbour of the Sharifs in Model Town, Lahore. Since 2008, while the Sharifs held power in Punjab, security barricades and protocols remained on high alert in their shared street. Justice Ijaz's Ahsan reportedly voiced his frustration over these barriers while serving at the Lahore High Court and later in the Supreme Court. The daily disruption caused by these security measures seemingly added to his resentment towards the Sharif family, as they became a constant inconvenience in his everyday routine.

After the Sharif family lost power in 2018, Justice (R) Ijaz's ordered the removal of all security barriers around their home. To send a message, he installed the same barriers at his own residence, where they stayed until Imran Khan was in power. This move reflected his ongoing grudge with the Sharif family.

The sources claim that the security issues and the firing of Justice Ijaz's brother from a lucrative position fueled his resentment towards the Sharif family, adding this hatred was clear in his comments and rulings against them. Those who orchestrated the Sharifs’ removal in 2017 recognised his personal grievances, which is why they ensured his inclusion in the Panama case bench.

After the Supreme Court’s decision in the Panama Papers case, Justice Ijaz's was appointed as the monitoring judge to oversee the Sharif family’s trial in the Accountability Court. Sources say his anger towards the Sharifs was evident in his actions, as he frequently summoned NAB officials working on the case. He guided them on how to file references and what evidence to present against the Sharifs. Justice Ijaz's ensured that the Sharifs faced the maximum punishment from the Accountability Court.

The News sent a detailed questionnaire to Justice (R) Ijaz's on October 15. Although he read the message on WhatsApp, but did not respond. Despite numerous reminders and nearly two weeks passing, he has yet to reply. Below is the questionnaire that was sent to him for his response.

“My name is Fakhar Durrani, and I am a journalist with The News Investigation Cell. I am working on a story related to you, and as a responsible journalist, I believe it is important to include your perspective.

I would appreciate it if you could respond to the following questions:

• Did your elder brother, Izhar ul Haq, work as head of marketing for Ittefaq Foundry in the late 1990s?
• Was Izhar ul Haq fired by Hussain Nawaz due to performance issues?
• Are you a neighbour of the Sharif family in Model Town, Lahore, and did you complain about the security check posts installed for their safety?
• Did you remove the security check posts for the Sharif family during Imran Khan’s government?
• The Sharif family sources claims you have a personal grudge against them, which influenced your decisions as a Supreme Court judge. How do you respond?
• They also claim that as a monitoring judge, you often summoned NAB officials and instructed them on how to conduct the investigation and file references.
• Lastly, the Sharif family sources allege that General Faiz Hameed was behind this situation, and your personal animosity played a role in the Panama Papers case. What is your response to these claims?

I look forward to hearing from you soon.”

Originally published in The News