Full Court Session
The Chief Justice of the Islamabad High Court (IHC), Aamer Farooq, has convened a full court session in response to a significant letter penned by six of the court’s eight judges, as reported by reliable sources.
The session is scheduled to take place at 1:30 PM on Wednesday. This move follows the court’s request, issued two days prior, for input from all its judges, including those at the district and sessions court level, which was to be submitted by Monday.
The letter in question, addressed last month to the five members of the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC), calls for a judicial convention to address concerns about alleged interference by intelligence agencies and the executive branch in judicial matters.
The authors of the 12-page document express a sentiment of urgency and the need for collective action among their peers in the judiciary.
In their communication, the judges underscored the necessity for a united judicial front against such pressures, mentioning the challenges faced by notable figures such as Justice Qazi Faez Isa, the Chief Justice of Pakistan.
They highlighted Justice Isa’s individual struggle against persecution by the executive, as well as the perseverance of Justice Siddiqui, who continues to advocate for justice following his removal from office.
The judges articulated in the letter a desire to ensure that no single judge is left to face such challenges alone.
They argued that the integrity of the judiciary could be maintained not just through the bravery and resilience of individuals, but through a collective stand against undue interference.
This call for a judicial convention aims to create a platform where issues of external pressure on the judiciary can be openly discussed and strategies developed to safeguard judicial independence.
The response of the IHC, under Chief Justice Farooq’s leadership, to convene a full court meeting indicates the seriousness with which these concerns are being taken.
The outcome of this full court meeting could be crucial in defining the future approach of the judiciary in maintaining its autonomy and handling pressures from non-judicial branches of government.
It sets a precedent for how deeply the judiciary is willing to engage internally to confront and potentially curb external influences that could undermine its decision-making processes.
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