IHC Judges Seek SJC Intervention Against ‘Interference In Courts Affairs’

Six judges from the Islamabad High Court have written to the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC), expressing concerns about what they perceive as interference from members of the executive branch, including intelligence agencies, in judicial matters.

In their letter to the SJC, the judges, including Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kiyani, Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, Justice Babar Sattar, Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan, Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir, and Justice Saman Fafat Imtiaz, seek guidance on how judges should respond to actions that they see as attempts to intimidate or interfere with their official duties. They also ask about the obligation to report such actions, even when they involve other judges or court members.

This move by the judges follows a recent Supreme Court ruling that declared the removal of former IHC Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui illegal. The court’s verdict highlighted concerns about the independence of the judiciary and questioned the fairness of the proceedings against Justice Siddiqui.

The IHC judges argue that the current code of conduct for judges, as prescribed by the SJC, does not provide clear guidance on how to handle situations involving interference or intimidation. They believe it is crucial to investigate whether there is a systematic effort by the executive to influence judicial affairs.

Additionally, the judges request a judicial conference to address the issue of interference by intelligence agencies and intimidation of judges, which they believe undermines the judiciary’s independence. They hope that such discussions will help find ways to protect judicial independence and hold those responsible for interference accountable.