{"id":75927,"date":"2024-03-27T09:22:27","date_gmt":"2024-03-27T09:22:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/calls-for-probe-into-letter-by-6-ihc-judges-on-brazen-meddling-in-judicial-affairs\/"},"modified":"2024-03-27T09:22:27","modified_gmt":"2024-03-27T09:22:27","slug":"calls-for-probe-into-letter-by-6-ihc-judges-on-brazen-meddling-in-judicial-affairs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/calls-for-probe-into-letter-by-6-ihc-judges-on-brazen-meddling-in-judicial-affairs\/","title":{"rendered":"Calls for probe into letter by 6 IHC judges on \u2018brazen meddling\u2019 in judicial affairs"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Calls emerged from various quarters on Wednesday for a probe into allegations<\/a> made by six Islamabad High Court (IHC) judges against interference in judicial affairs by the country\u2019s intelligence apparatus.<\/p>\n

On Tuesday, six IHC judges \u2014 out of a total strength of eight \u2014 wrote a startling letter to the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) members, regarding attempts to pressure judges through abduction and torture of their relatives as well as secret surveillance inside their homes.<\/p>\n

The letter addressed to SJC members \u2014 Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa, Supreme Court Justices Mansoor Ali Shah and Munib Akhtar and IHC CJ Aamer Farooq and Peshawar High Court CJ Mohammad Ibrahim Khan \u2014 also questioned if there existed a state policy to \u201cintimidate\u201d and coerce judges.<\/p>\n

The six judges also supported the demand of the former IHC judge, Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui<\/a>, for a probe into the allegations of interference by Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) operatives.<\/p>\n

The IHC Bar Association (IHCBA) demanded the CJP hold a \u201ctransparent inquiry\u201d into the matter and that legal action be taken against those involved.<\/p>\n

In a press release, the association said its cabinet held an emergency meeting. The lawyers\u2019 body \u201cstrongly condemned the interference of one institution into the matters of another institution\u201d.<\/p>\n

It further demanded that the \u201cjudiciary ensure independent decisions according to the law and the Constitution without fear or danger\u201d. It also commended the six IHC judges for their \u201ccourage and bravery\u201d.<\/p>\n

The association said that if needed, it would prove to be a vanguard for the judiciary\u2019s independence and \u201cwould take every step needed for the supremacy of the Constitution and the law\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe IHCBA would not even hesitate from holding a lawyers representative convention, countrywide lawyers convention, strike, hunger strike and running a movement if needed for the judiciary\u2019s independence,\u201d it asserted.<\/p>\n

The Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) demanded \u201cimmediate action against those intelligence agencies and their personnel involved in such nefarious activities and [that] they be punished for undermining and subverting of the Constitution and the law\u201d.<\/p>\n

It further demanded \u201cimmediate action by the SJC against those judges who cooperate with such intelligence agencies, thus playing havoc with the administration of justice\u201d.<\/p>\n

Condemning the alleged interference in the \u201cstrongest terms\u201d, the LHCBA said it was a \u201cserious threat to the rule of law and independence of judiciary\u201d.<\/p>\n

The body said that the current CJP and his predecessor \u2014 Justice Isa and Justice Umar Ata Bandial \u2014 \u201cfailed to act timely to avert this grave situation\u201d.<\/p>\n

It further said that the IHC chief justice had \u201cfailed to protect his fellow judges and the judges subordinate to IHC\u201d, terming his conduct \u201cnot appreciable\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe expect from CJP to act towards the protection of judges of the superior courts as well as the subordinate courts [\u2026] and to create conditions and [an] environment in which judges can dispense justice without any fear or favour,\u201d the LHCBA said.<\/p>\n

In an open letter, Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) Additional Secretary Sardar Shahbaz Ali Khosa urged CJP Isa to take suo motu notice of the matter under Article 184(3) of the Constitution and conduct a \u201cthorough and transparent (live) hearing\u201d of the case.<\/p>\n

He also called for an \u201cimmediate and rigorous scrutiny\u201d into the allegations. \u201cThe judiciary must be a safe haven for the pursuit of justice, untouched by the shadow of coercion, fear, or undue influence,\u201d Khosa said.<\/p>\n

He also highlighted a \u201crecent crackdown on journalists and media outlets who have reported on these alleged interferences\u201d and urged CJP Isa to summon prominent journalists across Pakistan to detail the \u201cextent of interference and coercion that the free press is being meted to on an everyday basis\u201d.<\/p>\n

The SCBA official further called for a meeting of the SJC to be convened on the issue and \u201cnot only ascertain the way forward but also fix responsibilities\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe SCBA of Pakistan, alongside lawyers and bar associations across the nation, will and must stand ready to support our judiciary in upholding the rule of law,\u201d the open letter stated.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor if we are not just today or turn a blind eye or a deaf ear, history will surely judge us harshly even if it is after fifty years,\u201d it added.<\/p>\n

The Balochistan Bar Council also called on CJP Isa to take a suo motu notice of the allegations. In a press release, the council expressed its concerns over the matter and said the alleged interference in judicial matters was \u201ccondemnable and unacceptable in any circumstances\u201d.<\/p>\n

The bar council also demanded that the Pakistan Bar Council convene a conference of lawyer representatives from across the country to decide on a plan of action.<\/p>\n

PTI calls for \u2018impartial inquiry\u2019<\/h2>\n

Meanwhile, a statement<\/a> posted on the X account of former prime minister Imran Khan \u2014 who is currently incarcerated \u2014 \u201cwelcomed the six brave judges [\u2026] who have highlighted the alarming state of affairs of the higher judiciary\u201d and called for an \u201cimpartial inquiry\u201d into the matter.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis letter with its two annexures, brings on the record the brazen and shameful interference of the intelligence agencies in judicial matters, which is a damning indictment against the independence of the judiciary in the country,\u201d the statement said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe fact that the judges have been intimidated and coerced into giving judgments based on political expediency raises a lot of questions on the fairness of the courts and their judgments over the last two years,\u201d it added.<\/p>\n

It said the letter also questioned the \u201ccredibility of the state narrative with results to May 9<\/a>, an event instigated within the IHC when Chairman PTI Imran Khan was abducted and dragged from the court premises by paramilitary forces, who stormed the building of the IHC\u201d.<\/p>\n

Highlighting that a \u201cwave of political victimisation has been unleashed\u201d against the party, the PTI said that \u201ccourts have been unable to assert their authority or dispense justice\u201d.<\/p>\n

The statement emphasised that as the IHC and its lower courts were where most of the cases against Imran were sub judice, \u201cthe fact that this court is under influence and pressure raises serious doubts on these cases as well\u201d.<\/p>\n

Separately, PTI\u2019s Barrister Gohar Ali Khan called for ensuring the safety of the judges who had written the letter as well as their families. Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, he demanded that an inquiry be conducted by a judicial commission.<\/p>\n

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