IHC judges seek moot over spy agencies ‘interference’ in judicial affairs
ISLAMABAD: Six judges from the Islamabad High Court (IHC) have called upon the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) to organize a judicial conference to address concerns regarding alleged interference from members of the executive branch, including intelligence agency personnel, in judicial matters.
In a letter addressed to the SJC, Justices Mohsin Akhtar Kiyani, Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, Babar Sattar, Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan, Arbab Muhammad Tahir, and Saman Fafat Imtiaz sought clarity from the council regarding the obligation of judges to report and address instances where members of the executive, including intelligence operatives, attempt to influence their official duties, constituting intimidation.
The letter emphasized the need for judges to report any such incidents involving colleagues or court members supervised by the High Court.
This initiative follows recent events, including the Supreme Court’s ruling that the dismissal of former IHC Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui was unlawful, with directions for considering him as retired. The ruling highlighted the SJC’s handling of Justice Siddiqui’s case, noting its dismissal of his allegations without proper examination or substantiation.
The IHC judges expressed support for Justice Siddiqui’s call for an investigation into his allegations, urging an expanded inquiry into ongoing interference in the administrative and judicial functions of the IHC and courts under its supervision. They noted a lack of guidance in the SJC’s code of conduct for judges on addressing incidents amounting to intimidation and undermining judicial independence.
Furthermore, the judges raised concerns about potential executive branch policies, implemented through intelligence operatives, aimed at coercing or blackmailing judges to influence judicial outcomes in politically significant cases.
In addition to their request for a judicial convention to discuss intelligence agency interference and judicial intimidation, the IHC judges emphasized the importance of safeguarding judicial independence and integrity in the face of external pressures.
