LHC issues SOPs to stop interference of agencies in judiciary

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC)  has directed the PM Office to instruct all the civil and military agencies including the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) to not contact any member of the judiciary.

Lahore High Court Justice Shahid Karim issued a 4-page written interim order in the case of harassment of an Anti-Terrorism (ATC) judge.

Justice Shahid Karim has issued 5-point SOPs to prevent interference in the Judiciary. It has been said that the Prime Minister’s Office should issue instructions to all civil and military agencies, including the Inter-Services Intelligence(ISI)  and Intelligence Bureau(IB). The agencies should not contact any judge of the superior or subordinate judiciary or their staff in future.

In the judgment, it has been said that the IG Punjab should also issue instructions to stop the subordinate officers from interfering in the judiciary. He remarked that for the security of the ATC courts and a decision should be taken by consultation and consensus with the concerned judge.

In the verdict of the Lahore High Court, it has been said that the ATC judges should record every call in their mobile phones, and the special anti-terrorism courts of Punjab should decide the May 9 cases on priority basis.

Justice Shahid Karim appointed Hina Hafeezullah as judicial assistant and ordered the judicial staff to fully cooperate in the investigation on the case of ATC judge Sargodha and also asked the investigating court staff to record the video of the investigation and provide to high court.

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