High Court judges spoke of instances where ISI and other state agencies interfered with judicial matters before a meeting chaired by Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Aamir Farooq. The meeting of the full court was called to to address the concerning issue of alleged interference by intelligence agencies in court cases. This meeting came after six judges bravely raised accusations of such meddling, particularly in high-profile cases. The judges had accused ISI of installing spy cameras in their bed rooms, assaulting family members and threatening judicial officers.
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The meeting, chaired by Chief Justice Aamir Farooq, saw all the judges, including Senior Puisne Judge Mohsin Akhtar Kayani and Justices Minagul Hassan Aurangzeb, Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, Babar Sattar, Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan, Arbab Muhammad Tahir, and Saman Rafat Imtiaz, in unanimous agreement.
The sensitive nature of the discussions led to the exclusion of the IHC registrar from the meeting. However, a statement released afterward confirmed that the judges, while maintaining a respectful tone, expressed their strong opposition to any attempts by intelligence agencies to manipulate legal proceedings.
Furthermore, the IHC judges emerged from the meeting with a comprehensive proposal to be submitted to the Supreme Court by April 25th. This plan outlines various measures, including the reactivation of empowered inspection teams, aimed at putting a definitive end to such alleged interference and ensuring a fair and independent judicial system.
This development reflects the commitment of the IHC judges to uphold the integrity of the legal system and protect it from external pressures. The Supreme Court’s request for proposals further demonstrates the seriousness with which this issue is being addressed, potentially leading to significant reforms to safeguard judicial independence in Pakistan.
April 25 2024
Source: Dawn