The Supreme Court has consolidated ten petitions and applications regarding alleged interference by intelligence agencies in judicial affairs, following a letter by six Islamabad High Court judges. Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa is leading the bench, which includes other justices. The case, initiated suo motu, will resume on April 30, with Justice Yahya Afridi having recused himself.
One application seeks to be a party in the hearing and calls for a commission to probe the allegations. The Lahore High Court Bar Association and Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan have also requested a judicial inquiry. The Islamabad High Court Bar Association and others have demanded a probe.
Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan’s petition asks the Supreme Court to declare allegations as evidence of the Inter-Services Intelligence’s (ISI) unlawful attempts to influence judicial decisions. The Supreme Court initiated suo motu proceedings after former Chief Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani recused himself from a commission to probe executive interference.
Aitzaz Ahsan’s petition urges the court to declare any interference in judicial affairs as unconstitutional and to terminate the service of those involved. The Pakistan Bar Council has requested a judicial commission manned by sitting Supreme Court judges.
The Islamabad High Court has submitted proposals to end meddling in judicial affairs, including reactivating empowered inspection teams to address complaints from judges of subordinate courts.
