Six IHC judges write to SJC against alleged interference in judicial matters

Six judges of the Islamabad High Court on Tuesday wrote a letter to Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) against alleged interference in the judicial affairs.

The letter was written by Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, Justice Babar Sattar, Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan, Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir, and Justice Saman Rafat Imtiaz.

The letter highlights the alleged interference of executive and agencies in the judicial matters, demanding the initiation of a judicial convention against such interference in the judicial affairs.

“We are writing to seek guidance from the Supreme judicial Council (SJC) with regard to the duty of a judge to report and respond to actions on part of members of the executive, including operatives of intelligence agencies, that seek to interfere with discharge of his/her official functions and qualify as intimidation, as well as the duty to report any such actions that come to his/her attention in relation to colleagues and/or members of the courts that the High Court supervises,” read he letter.

The development came days after the top court declared the removal of former IHC Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui illegal, directing that he may now be considered as a retired judge.

The verdict noted that the SJC proceeded against Justice Siddiqui on the "assumption that the truth or falseness of the allegations levelled" by the former judge was "irrelevant". It also noted that the SJC opined that Justice Siddiqui had failed to substantiate, independently corroborate, substantiate or prove the allegations levelled by him.

The letter by 6 Judges of the Islamabad High Court to the Supreme Judicial Council on “interference” and “intimidation” by “operatives of intelligence agencies” is HUGE.Everyone has known the pressure the courts have been under but the bravery of these 6 judges must be applauded. pic.twitter.com/POfGiaCelB

— Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir (@ImaanZHazir) March 26, 2024