Mian Dawood Advocate submitted a formal request to the Supreme Court, advocating for a transparent investigation into a complaint that six Islamabad High Court (IHC) judges addressed to the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC).
Six Islamabad High Court (IHC) judges, in a letter to the Chief Justice of Pakistan and copy to other judges of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, raised concerns about alleged meddling by intelligence agencies within the judiciary.
Authored the previous day, the complaint calls for a judicial convention to address executive interference in court matters. Dawood’s petition suggests establishing a dedicated commission to explore these claims, describing the judges’ actions as part of a calculated strategy.
The judges behind this initiative are Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kiyani, Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, Justice Babar Sattar, Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan, Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir, and Justice Saman Rafat Imtiaz. They seek the SJC’s advice on handling external pressures from the executive, including intelligence operatives, potentially undermining their official duties or intimidating them and their colleagues.
The issue emerged shortly after a ruling reinstated former IHC Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui as a retired judge, dismissing his prior removal as unfounded. The decision critiqued the SJC’s approach, suggesting it disregarded the validity of Siddiqui’s accusations without seeking evidence.
The IHC judges point out a lack of direction from the SJC on addressing or reporting intimidation that threatens judicial independence. They emphasize examining whether the executive consistently attempts to influence judicial processes.
