IHC to give institutional response to any meddling in court affairs

ISLAMABAD – The Islamabad High Court (IHC) had a full court meeting on Tuesday and unanimously determined to respond institutionally to any interference in the court’s activities, according to Dunya News.

The IHC full court met on Tuesday, chaired by Chief Justice Aamer Farooq, to complete ideas before submitting them to the Supreme Court in connection with an alleged meddling by spy agency officials in judicial affairs.

On March 26, six IHC judges, 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, wrote a letter to the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC), seeking guidance on alleged intelligence agency interference in court affairs.

Earlier, the chief justice of the Islamabad High Court scheduled a full court meeting on Tuesday to review the six IHC judges’ letters.

The office of the Islamabad High Court chief justice has solicited ideas from all judges, including district and sessions court judges.

The development came after six Islamabad High Court (IHC) judges accused the intelligence apparatus of interfering with judicial affairs.

Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa intimated on March 27 that the Supreme Court would convene a full court in response to the letter.

Justice Yahya Afridi of the Supreme Court has recused himself from the suo moto issue involving a letter submitted by six Islamabad High Court (IHC) judges.

High Court Bar Association’s position

Earlier, the Islamabad High Court Bar Association filed a constitutional case with the Supreme Court, requesting a thorough and fair inquiry of six judges’ letter alleging meddling in judicial affairs.

The petitioner urged the Supreme Court to take action against individuals found guilty of influencing the judiciary.

The petition stated that the judges presented a major concern. “If the apex court deems it necessary, it should refer the matter to the Supreme Judicial Council for review,” it said.

The petitioner contended that an independent judiciary was the Constitution’s defender and the only source of justice. No compromise on judicial independence is acceptable under any circumstances.

How it began.


On March 25, six Islamabad High Court judges wrote to the Supreme Judicial Council against the “interference of intelligence agencies in judicial matters”.

Earlier this month, the Supreme Court took suo moto notice and hinted at convening a full court to hear the case. Prior to that, the federal government established a one-man inquiry commission, which was unable to commence any proceedings due to the reluctance of its chairman, former Chief Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani.