The Pakistan Bar Council, an organization of lawyers across Pakistan, rejected the demand of the resignation of Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Qazi Faiz Isa on behalf of a political party.
In a statement issued by the Pakistan Bar Council on Saturday, it was said that ‘the investigation of the allegations against the judges of the Islamabad High Court should be conducted at the forum decided in the meeting between the Prime Minister and the Chief Justice.’
The declaration also supported the appointment of former Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice (R) Tasadeq Hussain Jilani as the head of the commission.
The declaration further said that ‘no other institution should be allowed to interfere in the judiciary. The Pakistan Bar Council and the lawyers’ fraternity stand with the Chief Justice of Pakistan and the judiciary and we reject the criticism of the Chief Justice regarding the High Court judges.
The declaration said that it is the responsibility of the state to provide privacy to judges and to protect them.
According to the announcement of the Pakistan Bar Council, the Bar Council also condemns the demand for the resignation of the Chief Justice on behalf of a political party.
The statement said that the Pakistan Bar Council will soon convene a general body meeting to deliberate on the matter.
A commission was established under the chairmanship of Justice Tasadeq Hussain Jilani
The government of Pakistan on Saturday set up a commission of inquiry headed by Justice (retd) Tasadeq Jilani to investigate the allegations leveled in a letter by six judges of the Islamabad High Court.
According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister House after the Federal Cabinet meeting on Saturday, the Cabinet also approved the Terms of Reference (TORs) of the Commission of Inquiry.
According to the TORs, the inquiry commission will thoroughly investigate the allegations made in the judges’ letter and determine whether the allegations are true or not.
According to the declaration, the Commission of Inquiry will determine whether any official was directly involved in the interference. The commission will recommend action against an agency, department or government body based on the facts revealed in its investigation.
The Commission will also have the power to examine any other matter it deems necessary during the course of the inquiry.
The Cabinet meeting denied the allegation of executive interference in the letter and called it inappropriate.
The Cabinet members were of the unanimous opinion that the constitution of Pakistan, 1973, strongly believed in the principle of division of powers among the three state institutions.
Letter of the Six Judges
This week, six judges of the Islamabad High Court had written a letter to the Supreme Judicial Council and demanded to convene a judicial convention, alleging interference in judicial affairs.
The letter writers include Justice Babar Sattar, Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq, Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir and Justice Taman Rifat.
The letter claimed that ‘intelligence agencies are interfering in the work of the judiciary, so a judicial convention should be convened on the issue of intimidation of judges by intelligence officials.’
The judges sought guidance from the members of the Supreme Judicial Council through this letter and said that we are writing this letter for guidance from the Supreme Judicial Council.
The letter added that “interference in judicial affairs by intelligence officials and intimidation of judges undermines the independence of the judiciary, such institutional consultation can be helpful on how to protect the independence of the judiciary.”
Prime Minister’s meeting with Chief Justice
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Qazi Faiz Isa on Thursday after the letter of the judges of the Islamabad High Court came to light.
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Prime Minister of Law Nazir Tarar, Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan, second senior judge of Supreme Court Justice Mansoor Ali Shah and Registrar Supreme Court Jazeela Aslam also participated in the meeting.
After the meeting, while holding a press conference along with the Attorney General, Prime Minister Nazir Tarar said that various aspects were discussed keeping in mind the seriousness of the meeting, such things have been happening before.
He said: ‘The Prime Minister said that there will be no compromise on the independence of the judiciary.’
Full court session
Chief Justice Qazi Faiz Isa also convened a full court meeting on the issue of the letter, after which a statement said that executive interference in judicial affairs will not be tolerated.
The statement said that during the meeting between Chief Justice Qazi Faiz Isa and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, it was suggested to form a commission of inquiry headed by a retired judge to investigate the allegations under the ‘Pakistan Commissions of Inquiry Act 2017’.
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2024-05-06 14:35:29
