The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has urged the establishment of an inquiry commission to investigate the recent letter from Islamabad High Court (IHC) judges, similar to commissions previously formed for the Memogate scandal and Election 2013 rigging allegations.
PTI leader Barrister Gohar Ali Khan expressed the party’s opposition to a commission headed by a retired judge, advocating instead for a commission comprising serving judges, citing concerns over the power wielded by former judges, which is equivalent to that of civil judges.
Earlier today, the federal government announced the formation of an inquiry commission, led by former Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice (retired) Tassaduq Hussain Jillani, to investigate allegations of intelligence agencies’ interference in the judiciary. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif disclosed this development during a federal cabinet session.
Six serving judges of the IHC wrote a letter to the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) on March 26, urging a judicial convention to address concerns regarding intelligence agencies’ influence on judicial functions. These 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, took this action following the Supreme Court’s ruling on March 22 in Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui’s dismissal case.
In response to the IHC’s allegations, Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa emphasized that executive interference in judicial affairs would not be tolerated. A statement issued by the Supreme Court underscored the CJ’s stance, affirming that the independence of the judiciary must not be compromised, as it is fundamental to upholding the rule of law and democracy.
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