ISLAMABAD – Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa remarked that no compromise will be made on independence of judiciary in the country.
The top judge made the remarks while hearing suo motu case related to the letter written by Islamabad High Court (IHC) judges against alleged involvement of intelligence agencies in judicial affairs.
A seven-member bench headed by CJP Isa and comprising Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Yahya Afridi, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhel, Justice Athar Minallah, Justice Musarrat Hilali and Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan heard the case.
During today’s hearing, Attorney General for Pakistan Mansoor Usman Awan appeared before the apex court while Hamid Khan attended the hearing as counsel for PTI founder Imran Khan.
At one point, the chief justice said he would be at the frontline if there is any attack on independence of the judiciary, adding that interference in judicial affairs will not be tolerated.
After hearing arguments from the AGP and other lawyers, the CJP said a full court would conduct next hearing on the suo motu notice on April 29.
The apex court took suo motu notice earlier this week when a larger number of lawyers from different bar associations across the country demanded the top court to take suo motu notice under Article 184(3) of the Constitution on the IHC judges’ letter.
The lawyers have also rejected the formation of an inquiry commission led by former chief justice of Pakistan Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jilani to investigate the allegations.
Last week, six Islamabad High Court judges — out of a total strength of eight — wrote a startling letter to the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) members, regarding attempts to pressure judges through abduction and torture of their relatives as well as secret surveillance inside their homes.
