New SC bench formed to hear cases of interference in judicial processes

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) of Pakistan has constituted a new bench to hear a suo motu case involving allegations of intelligence agency interference in judicial processes.

This new six-member bench was formed after Justice Yahya Afridi recused himself from the proceedings.

Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa will head this bench, which also includes Justices Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, Jamal Khan Mandokhaill, Athar Minallah, Musarrat Hilali and Naeem Akhtar Afghan.

CJP judge Qazi Faez Isa initiated the suo motu notice on April 1 following a letter from Islamabad High Court (IHC) judges alleging intelligence agency interference in legal matters.

The letter, written by prominent IHC judges including Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kiyani, Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, Justice Baqir Sattar, Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan, Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir and Justice Salman Rafat Imtiaz, was in response to the Supreme Court’s ruling of March 22. on Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui’s dismissal case.

In their communication to the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC), these judges sought guidance on a judge’s duty to report to and respond to executive members, including agents of the intelligence services, who attempted to interfere with their official duties and classified such actions as intimidation.

During the first hearing on April 3, CJP Qazi Faez Isa indicated that it was likely that a full bench would be convened for the subsequent hearing regarding the IHC judges’ claims.

At the beginning of the hearing, CJP Isa instructed the Attorney General to issue the press release that followed the full hearing of the court.