The Lahore High Court (LHC) has directed the Pakistan Prime Minister’s Office to ensure that no civil or military agency, including the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), contacts judiciary members.
Justice Shahid Karim of the Lahore High Court issued a four-page interim order on Saturday following a suo motu action initiated by former Chief Justice Malik Shahzad Ahmad Khan regarding a complaint from an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) judge in Sargodha.
Justice Karim, who continued the case after Khan was promoted, demanded that the prime minister establish strict guidelines for security agencies to prevent such incidents.
According to the order, agencies must not approach any judiciary member or their staff in the future.
Further, the court mandated that Punjab police officers avoid direct discussions with judges about ongoing cases. The order specifies that any security measures for ATC judges in Punjab should be agreed upon with the judges themselves.
Additionally, it holds the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and local police chiefs accountable for any breaches of this order under threat of contempt charges.
Justice Karim instructed ATC judges across Punjab to record all calls that might influence their judicial duties. The court also prioritized ATC judges’ swift resolution of cases dated May 9, 2023.
Furthermore, the LHC ordered the ATC judge and his staff to cooperate fully in investigations and required all proceedings to be video recorded. The hearing has been adjourned until July 8.
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