Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf has called for resignation of chief justices of the supreme court
and Islamabad high court (IHC) for ‘inaction’ on alleged interference by intelligence agenciesin Pakistan’s judicial affairs.
PTI spokesperson Raoof Hassan claimed during a press conference that Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa and IHC CJ Aamer Farooq turned ‘deaf air’ the ongoing complaints from IHC judges about ISI’s involvement in judicial matters. He mentioned a letter written by six Islamabad High Court judges, accusing intelligence agencies of interfering in judicial affairs, such as pressuring judges through family abductions and torture, and conducting secret surveillance in their residences.
The judges at the Islamabad High Court (IHC) also mentioned that they had raised these concerns with the Chief Justice of the IHC in two letters dated May 10, 2023, and February 12, 2024. However, despite these communications, no action was taken.
Hassan highlighted that the letters had criticized the Chief Justice of the IHC and detailed instances of perceived “intimidation and interference” that were brought to his attention. He emphasized that despite being informed both in writing and verbally, the Chief Justice of the IHC did not act to safeguard judicial independence, suggesting complicity on Chief Justice Farooq’s part, as reported by Dawn.
A spokesperson for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) stated that Chief Justice Farooq played a significant role in the trials and convictions related to Imran Khan, overseeing the entire process.
Hassan further mentioned that the letter directly implicated the Chief Justice of Pakistan, noting that the Chief Justice was informed about the matter in several meetings. The letter specifically referenced a meeting in May 2023 between six judges from the Islamabad High Court and the Chief Justice of Pakistan, who was then the senior puisne judge, with Umar Ata Bandial in office.
During a press conference, Hassan stated that Imran Khan’s party had repeatedly asked the Chief Justice of the IHC to step down from cases involving Khan but was denied, according to Dawn.
Hassan accused Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of benefiting from intelligence agencies’ interference in judicial matters, despite being accused himself. He criticized allowing Shehbaz Sharif to appoint the head of the commission investigating the judges’ allegations.
Describing it as a “judicial surrender,” PTI’s spokesperson emphasized that the matter should be investigated in a full court hearing rather than through executive inquiry. Niazullah Khan Niazi, a member of PTI’s core committee and president of the Insaf Lawyers Forum, stated that the letter highlighted a paralyzed system. He also mentioned PTI’s victory in elections despite challenges, alleging manipulation of Form-47 to reverse election results
