Legal community calls probe into IHC judges’ letter on ‘agencies interference

ISLAMABAD: The legal community voiced apprehension on Wednesday regarding accusations raised by six judges of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) regarding alleged interference in judicial matters by the country’s intelligence agencies. They called for an investigation into the matter.

Responding to these demands, Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa called for a full court session. The Supreme Court Bar Association of Pakistan (SCBAP) supported the judges and reiterated its steadfast backing for the judiciary and the Honorable Judges of the Islamabad High Court.

In a statement, SCBAP President Shahzad Shaukat and Secretary Syed Ali Imran expressed profound distress over the incidents mentioned in the letter issued by the six Honorable Judges of the Islamabad High Court. SCBAP condemned the alleged interference, emphasizing that it warrants serious action by the judiciary.

The Sindh High Court Bar Association, in an emergency meeting, reviewed the letter and demanded the formation of a three-member judicial commission, comprising Supreme Court judges, to investigate the matter. It praised the IHC judges for bringing the interference to light.

Similarly, the Islamabad High Court Bar Association expressed concern, asserting its belief in the independence and autonomy of the judiciary as constitutional cornerstones. They emphasized that public trust in the justice system hinges on judicial independence and autonomy. The bar strongly condemned interference by any institution in the affairs of another.

The bar associations stood firm on the principles of the rule of law, judicial independence, and autonomy. They demanded assurance that judges could perform their duties while upholding the constitutional principle of an independent judiciary.

The Balochistan Bar Council also expressed concern over the allegations by the IHC judges, echoing former judge Shaukat Siddiqui’s concerns regarding intervention by the country’s intelligence agencies. The Council urged the apex court to take suo motu notice of the letter and called on the Pakistan Bar Council to convene an immediate lawyers’ convention to chart a future course of action.

Previously, six serving judges of the Islamabad High Court had written to the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC), urging it to summon a judicial convention to address the matter of intelligence agencies’ interference with judicial functions.

They sought guidance from the SJC on judges’ duty to report and respond to actions by the executive branch, including intelligence agencies, that interfere with their official functions and amount to intimidation.

The judges emphasized the need to investigate whether there exists a continuing policy by the executive to meddle in judicial affairs, citing a lack of guidance in the code of conduct for judges prescribed by the SJC on how to respond to such incidents.