The federal cabinet greenlit the formation of an inquiry commission to probe allegations against Islamabad High Court (IHC) judges, appointing former Chief Justice of Pakistan, Tassaduq Hussain Jillani.
The single-member commission, led by former Chief Justice of Pakistan Tassaduq Hussain Jillani, will investigate claims made by IHC judges in a recent letter.
IHC judges, including Justices Mohsin Akhtar Kiyani and Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, requested the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) to address the alleged judicial interference of intelligence agencies on March 26.
Responding, Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa emphasized on March 28 that executive interference in judicial processes is unacceptable. This declaration was made during his meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, where they concurred on establishing the commission.
The decision came during a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Sharif, focusing on the judges’ letter and commission formation. The meeting took place via Zoom, accommodating ministers online.
Previously, the cabinet meeting faced two postponements due to the Prime Minister’s schedule.
Regarding Tassaduq Jillani, the ex-Chief Justice has a distinguished judicial career. He retired on July 10, 2014, after over a decade on the Supreme Court bench.
Born on July 6, 1949, Jillani’s law career began in Multan in 1974. He eventually rose to the Supreme Court in 2004. His tenure as Chief Justice was marked in 2013, after returning to the bench after 2007’s emergency imposition.
In 2023, Jillani received the American Bar Association International Human Rights Award for his impactful judgments upholding judicial independence in Pakistan. He was also honoured with the 2020 J Clifford Wallace Award for his judicial contributions.
Jillani’s rulings have significantly influenced areas like fundamental rights, gender equality, and minority protections, including a pivotal decision on minority rights in 2014 following a tragic church bombing in Peshawar.
