No meddling in judicial matters will be tolerated, declares CJP Hints at forming full court on IHC judges' letter
ISLAMABAD, (NNI): The Supreme Court of Pakistan will not tolerate any kind of meddling in the judicial matters and there would also be no compromise on the independence of courts.
This was declared by Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa as the Supreme Court of Pakistan took up a suo motu case on a letter penned by six Islamabad High Court (IHC) judges alleging interference by intelligence agencies.
CJP Qazi made the remarks during proceedings on Wednesday at the head of the seven-judge larger bench.
Other members were Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Yahya Afridi, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhel, Justice Athar Minallah, Justice Musarrat Hilali, and Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan.
Justice Qazi Isa made it crystal clear that "attack of any kind" on the judiciary's independence would not be tolerated. He categorically said that there would be no compromise on the independence of judiciary and that he could not be pressurized.
The chief justice said had he not given importance to the letter, he would not have held a meeting with the IHC judges, and that too in the holy month of Ramadan. "My meeting with the judges lasted for two and a half hours," he said, adding, "I also had meetings with the representatives of different bar councils of the country irrespective of their political affiliations."
However, the CJP lamented, the propaganda that some people were indulging in on the social media was unprecedented. "Let me make it clear to you," CJP Isa said, adding "When there would be an attack on the independence of judiciary, all judges would forget their differences and would stand together as firm as a rock."
He, however, questioned why the lawyers did not speak when the SC's full-court meeting was not held for four years.
Attorney General for Pakistan Mansoor Usman Awan appeared before the SC along with Hamid Khan, who was present as ex-premier Imran Khan's counsel. Ahmed Hussain appeared as Aitzaz Ahsan's lawyer.
Hamid Khan informed the court that he had requested to be made a respondent in the case. CJP Isa then remarked, "Gone are the days when it was the chief justice's will. We have constituted a committee to fix cases." The CJP noted that the court had not received Hamid's plea, adding the committee would decide on the matter once the petition is received.
The chief justice said it was "inappropriate" that petitions were reported in the media before they were even filed. "When we talk about pressure being exerted, is this also exerting pressure on us in a way?" the CJP wondered, adding he never gave in to anyone's pressure.