CJP Isa says he has not received any complaints of interference in judicial matters under his watch

Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Qazi Faez Isa on Thursday said he has not received any complaint from a Supreme Court judge alleging that other intuitions have interfered in the judicial process.

“Since I became the Chief Justice (of the Supreme Court of Pakistan), I have not received any complaint from any judge that there has been any interference in their work,” Justice Isa said while addressing the Sindh High Court Bar Association. SHCBA).

“If there was any interference in their work, it was not reported to me and all the incidents mentioned took place before my watch…before I took oath as CJP.

“So it’s something to keep in mind that interference is not acceptable, but at the same time nothing was reported to me during… my watch.”

He said that the support extended by the SHCBA to the six judges of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) who had also written to me was mentioned. “I thank them on their behalf,” the CJP added.

Last month, six judges of the IHC – comprising Judge Mohsin Akhtar Kiyani, Judge Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, Judge Babar Sattar, Judge Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan, Judge Arbab Muhammad Tahir and Judge Saman Rafat Imtiaz – wrote a letter to the Supreme Court of Justice ( SJC), seeking advice on the “interference” of the intelligence services in the affairs of the courts.

“We write to seek guidance from the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) regarding the duty of a judge to report on and respond to actions of (the) members of the executive branch, including agents of intelligence services, that attempt to interfere with (the) exercise of his/her official functions and qualify as harassment, as well as the duty to report such actions that come to his/her attention in relation to colleagues and/or members of the courts on which the Supreme Court supervises,” read that last one.

Later, the Supreme Court initiated suo motu proceedings over the letter and sought a motion from the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC), Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), high courts and the federal government in this regard.

“They should propose what should be the institutional response and mechanism to address the issues, such as those raised in the letter (from IHC judges), and ensure that such issues are addressed in the will not occur again in the future and, if they do, to determine liability and prosecute. those responsible,” read the Supreme Court’s April 3 order.

A full bench of the IHC took a strong stand against interference in judicial affairs by intelligence officials and decided “unanimously” on Tuesday to provide an “institutional response” to any external interference, well-placed sources said.

The full bench of the IHC was held under the chairmanship of Chief Justice Aamer Farooq to finalize proposals before they were submitted to the Supreme Court in connection with a case related to the alleged interference of spy agency personnel in judicial matters.