Islamabad High Court Seeks Probe into Intelligence Agency Interference Allegations

Islamabad, Pakistan – The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has formally requested that the Supreme Court of Pakistan launch a transparent investigation into serious allegations of interference by intelligence agencies within the judiciary. The IHC's plea emphasizes the critical need for judicial independence to ensure justice for citizens.

This move comes after a controversial letter written by senior 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. In the letter, the judges reported attempts by intelligence agencies to undermine their judicial duties.

Key Developments​

• Supreme Court Takes Notice: On April 1st, Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa took suo moto notice (acted on his own authority) in response to the IHC judges' letter.
• Full Court Hearing Hinted: The CJP has indicated the possibility of forming a full Supreme Court bench to address the matter.
• Judge Recusal: Justice Yahya Afridi, who was part of the initial seven-member bench, recused himself from the case, citing the importance of following the Supreme Judicial Council's code of conduct.

Crucial Context: The IHC's call for a probe emphasizes the fundamental principle that an independent judiciary is essential for upholding justice in Pakistan. Any compromise on judicial freedom is seen by the court as unacceptable.

This is a developing story. Further updates are expected as the Supreme Court of Pakistan responds to the Islamabad High Court's request.