Six judges of the Islamabad High Court have written a letter to the Supreme Judicial Council on Tuesday on ‘interference in judicial affairs’ in which the judges have demanded a judicial convention on the matter.
Justice Babar Sattar, Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq, Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir and Justice Taman Rifat have written a letter to the Supreme Judicial Council.
The letter written by six judges said that ‘intelligence agencies are interfering in the work of judiciary. Therefore, a judicial convention should be called on the issue of intimidation of judges by intelligence officials.
The judges have asked for guidance from the members of the Supreme Judicial Council through this letter and said that ‘We are writing this letter for guidance from the Supreme Judicial Council, requesting that a judicial convention be called on the issue of interference by intelligence officials. Interference in judicial affairs by gender officials and intimidation of judges reduces the independence of the judiciary, such institutional consultation can be helpful on how to protect the independence of the judiciary.’
Citing various incidents, the letter said that the brother-in-law of a High Court judge was kidnapped in May 2023, a hidden camera was recovered from a judge’s residence, the Chief Justice of the High Court took action against the intruders. Also written for, the letter asked to take contempt of court action against such elements but no action was taken by the Chief Justice High Court.
Earlier in 2018, Islamabad High Court judge Justice Shaukat Siddiqui in his speech accused the intelligence agencies of interference, on which the then army chief and the federal government complained against him, after which the Supreme Judicial Council impeached him. was removed from the post of judge but only recently on March 22, the Supreme Court ruled that the removal of retired Justice Shaukat Siddiqui was a ‘wrongful act’.
In a letter written by six judges of the Islamabad High Court, it has been said that ‘every judge cannot be as brave as Chief Justice Qazi Faiz Isa or Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui to fight alone. There should be action.’
“We support Shaukat Siddiqui’s stand that there should be a thorough investigation into the alleged interference by the intelligence agencies,” the letter added.
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The letter also mentions the ‘pressure’ during the Terian case and says that two judges declared the case against Imran Khan inadmissible, but the judges faced intense pressure for declaring the case inadmissible. As a result, a judge had to be shifted to the hospital due to stress and anxiety.
The letter also states that this matter was brought to the notice of the Chief Justice of Islamabad High Court (Justice Amir Farooq), on which the Chief Justice of the High Court said that he was assured that no one would interfere. .’
According to the letter, on May 19, 2023, we brought the matter to the notice of the then Chief Justice of Pakistan, on the same day, the most senior judge, Justice Qazi Faiz Isa, was also informed. Will inform later.’
“It is important to recognize and determine that there is an ongoing policy of an executive branch of state, an ongoing policy implemented by intelligence officials who report to the executive branch,” the letter said. .’
“We believe it is important to investigate and determine whether the intelligence branch is using political engineering to intimidate and blackmail judges to obtain the verdicts they want.”
These six judges say that ‘as judges, we have taken a constitutional oath to deliver justice to all people without fear and in accordance with the constitution and the law, and justice demands that we are influenced by external considerations. Provide justice to every litigant without.’