SC takes suo motu notice of IHC judges’ letter. The Supreme Court of Pakistan has taken a significant step in response to a letter penned by senior judges of the Islamabad High Court (IHC), forming a larger bench to address the issues raised.
SC takes suo motu notice of IHC judges’ letter
CJP Qazi Faez Isa to Lead Seven-Member Bench
Chief Justice of Pakistan, Qazi Faez Isa, will lead the seven-member bench tasked with examining the matters highlighted in the letter.
The bench includes distinguished justices such as Mansoor Ali Shah, Jamal Mandokhail, Yahya Afridi, Musarrat Hilali, Athar Minallah, and Naeem Afghan.
Government Initiates Judicial Commission under Justice (r) Tassaduq Hussain Jilani
Following the Supreme Court’s move, the government initiated a judicial commission, headed by Justice (retired) Tassaduq Hussain Jilani, to probe the allegations raised by the IHC judges.
The commission has been granted a 60-day period to compile its findings.
Scheduled Hearing Set for Wednesday
A hearing before the seven-member bench has been scheduled for Wednesday at 11:30 am to delve into the issues brought forward by the IHC judges’ letter.
Cabinet Approves Terms of Reference (TORs) for Inquiry Commission
The cabinet has approved the terms of reference (TORs) for the inquiry commission, providing a framework for its investigation into the allegations of interference and intimidation by intelligence agencies in judicial affairs.
Chief Justice Convenes Full Court Meeting
Prior to these developments, the Chief Justice of Pakistan summoned a full court meeting to deliberate on the contents of the letter submitted by the IHC judges.
The meeting aimed to address concerns regarding alleged interference by intelligence agencies in judicial matters.
Letter Highlights Instances of Interference and Intimidation
The letter, authored by Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, Tariq Mahmood Jahangiri, Babar Sattar, Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan, Arbab Muhammad Tahir, and Saman Raffat Imtiaz, highlighted several instances of interference and intimidation by operatives of intelligence agencies.
These included the abduction of a judge’s relative and illegal surveillance of judges’ residences.
Judges Emphasize Importance of Judicial Independence
The senior judges emphasized the importance of upholding judicial independence and ensuring that judges are shielded from external influences.
They underscored the need to protect the judiciary’s autonomy and integrity in Pakistan’s legal system.
District Court Judges Facing Intimidation
In addition to concerns at the higher court level, the letter referenced instances of intimidation faced by judges at the district court level.
Notably, an Additional District and Sessions Judge reportedly received threats, and explosives were thrown into his residence in an attempt to intimidate him.
