The Supreme Court has taken a suo motu inquiry into claims of intelligence agencies meddling in judicial affairs, highlighted in a letter from Islamabad High Court (IHC) judges.
This action persists despite the government’s decision to form a commission for investigation. A seven-member panel, led by Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa, is set for an initial hearing on Wednesday.
The panel includes Justices Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, Yahya Afridi, Athar Minallah, Mussarat Hilali, Jamal Khan Mandokhail, and Naeem Akhtar Afghan. Last week, the letter’s revelation stirred controversy, and the Supreme Court, under Chief Justice Isa, was pressed to address this under Article 184(3) of the Constitution.
Moreover, over 300 lawyers from various bar associations nationwide have praised the judges’ courage and urged the Supreme Court to undertake a suo motu review. The IHC judges—Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kiyani, Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, Babar Sattar, Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan, Arbab Muhammad Tahir, and Saman Rafat Imtiaz—requested a judicial convention via the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) to discuss the alleged intelligence agency intrusions.
This call for action follows the Supreme Court’s reinstatement of former IHC Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui, deemed unjustly removed, treating him as retired. The ruling criticized the SJC’s handling of Siddiqui’s allegations as irrelevant and claimed he hadn’t proved his accusations.
In response to the escalating situation, Chief Justice Isa led a comprehensive Supreme Court meeting on March 27, seeking SJC’s advice on judges’ responsibilities when facing executive or intelligence interference. This gathering occurred amidst calls from various bar associations and senior lawyers for an official inquiry.
Subsequently, Chief Justice Isa met with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, alongside the law minister, attorney general, a senior judge, and the Supreme Court’s registrar, following a full court recommendation.
