A judge who sees interference and does nothing should not be a judge, sit at home, Chief Justice

Islamabad: The Chief Justice of Pakistan has said that a judge who does not do anything after seeing interference should not be a judge, he should sit at home.

The larger bench of the Supreme Court heard the suo motu case on the letter of interference in the judiciary of Islamabad High Court Judges.

The Attorney General asked for time till tomorrow to submit the reply.

Justice Athar Minullah read his additional note that the federal government controls the agencies, the federal government should respond to the allegations, the federal government should clarify its position, the judges of the high court pointed out that the series of interference is still continuing. It is the responsibility of the federal government to satisfy and not interfere.

The lawyer of the Pakistan Bar Council argued that they want a judicial inquiry into the case of the six judges, a judicial commission consisting of one or more judges should be formed and the guilty should be punished.

Justice Athar Minullah said that in 2018/19, the biggest challenge of the High Courts was to remain silent on the issues of the Supreme Court. Lies are being told in this country for 76 years, why are we afraid, why don’t we tell the truth, we should recognize the interference in the judiciary.

The Chief Justice said to him that I do not agree with this argument, if that is the case, then you should not sit here. Sit down, judges should not be judges who do nothing when they see interference.

Justice Athar said that not only me, the Attorney General has also said this, the government is also admitting the interference, all the high courts have submitted more serious responses than six judges, one high court has also said that Interference is playing with the constitution.

Justice Athar Manullah remarked that this interference did not stop with the Faizabad dharna case or anything else, the judges highlighted that the interference is an ongoing process and trend, tell me what should be done to stop this process? The Attorney General himself has admitted that what was happening in 2018, the major challenge for the independent judges of the High Court in 2018 and 2019 was the collusion of the Supreme Court.

Justice Athar Manullah said that people should not be afraid to tell the truth, we should admit collusion. The Chief Justice replied that if there is collusion, then there is no justification for sitting on the bench.