The Supreme Court resumed hearing a case regarding allegations made by six Islamabad High Court (IHC) judges concerning alleged interference by the country’s security apparatus in judicial matters. The six-member larger bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa, included Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhaill, Justice Athar Minallah, Justice Musarrat Hilali, and Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan.
The CJP took suo moto notice of the IHC judges’ letter on April 1, in which they alleged interference by intelligence agencies in judicial matters. During a previous hearing, Justice Isa clarified that the bench formation committee decided that all available judges in Islamabad should immediately convene, without any selective process. He noted that a full court hearing on the matter was not possible as two judges were unavailable.
Justice Isa expressed concerns about the polarisation in the country and emphasised the importance of judicial independence. He reiterated that attacks against former CJP Jillani were unsettling and highlighted that interference could come from various sources, including intelligence agencies, colleagues, family members, and social media.
The CJP stressed the significance of judges’ independence in their judgments and orders. He emphasised that he is accountable only for his tenure as chief justice and has pursued an inclusive approach during his term. Justice Isa then inquired if the Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) had reviewed the recommendations made by the IHC judges, to which the AGP responded negatively. The CJP sought guidance from the AGP on how to proceed with the matter.