More than 300 lawyers demand automatic notice from the Supreme Court on the letter of the judges
Lawyers demanded the Supreme Court to constitute a bench of available judges—File: Photo
Islamabad: More than 300 lawyers from across the country have requested the Supreme Court to take suo motu notice under Article 184-3 of the Constitution regarding the letter based on allegations of interference and pressure by agencies in judicial affairs on behalf of 6 judges of the Islamabad High Court. Demanded.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and well-known lawyer Salman Akram Raja, Iman Zainab Mazari and other lawyers issued a statement based on joint condemnation and demand for protection of judicial independence, in which the lawyers’ community and other sectors Includes the names of several persons belonging to
The statement said that in the light of the extremely difficult events highlighted in the letter unexpectedly written by 6 judges of the Islamabad High Court on March 25, 2024, we, the lawyers’ fraternity, stand firm on the supremacy of law, independence of the judiciary and access to justice. Expressing commitment through the above statement.
The lawyers have said that they endorse the resolutions passed by the Islamabad High Court Bar Association, Sindh High Court Bar Association, Pakistan Bar Council, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Bar Council and Balochistan Bar Council, in which the principle of independence of judiciary, Islamabad Expressing solidarity with the 6 judges of the High Court, appreciating their courageous actions and demanding appropriate measures to uphold these principles.
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The statement said that we condemn the incidents mentioned in paragraph number 6 of the letter of the 6 judges of the Islamabad High Court and express our deep concern in this regard and these allegations cannot be ignored, the statement said. The incidents mentioned clearly show the criminal pressure, torture, illegal surveillance of judges and their families who report to the administration by secret agency officials.
Referring to the past incidents of putting pressure on judges, it is said that such allegations are not new, but similar allegations raised by Islamabad High Court Justice (retd) Shaukat Uzair Siddiqui are in our memories. Fresh, as a result of which he was unceremoniously removed from office even though the allegations against him were yet to be proved or dismissed under an impartial inquiry as per his request.
The statement also included references to the Supreme Court’s past and recent judgments on independence of the judiciary and pressure on the judiciary, including the cases of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Justice (retd) Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui. It is also included and it has been said that if the judges are subjected to systematic pressure and interference, the entire justice system is disgraced and its credibility is lost.
He said that lawyers seek justice for their clients in the courts and expect them to be heard in an impartial manner and justice is delivered, if the judges are not free from fear to deliver justice, then the lawyers. Including the entire legal system loses its value.
In the statement, the Pakistan Bar Council and all other bar associations have been called upon to convene a nationwide bar convention on an emergency basis to formulate a common plan of action to strengthen the independence of the judiciary.
The Supreme Court has been requested to take up the matter under Article 184 III of the Constitution as it is a matter of public interest and fundamental human rights and to resolve the matter in a transparent manner before the public so that the independence of the judiciary can be upheld. It is public confidence that needs to be restored.
Lawyers have said that for transparency and to save the issue from being politicized, we request the Supreme Court to form a bench consisting of all available judges to hear the issue and telecast the hearing live for the public. .
It is further stated that such hearings and inquiry into the nature of the allegations of Islamabad High Court Judges are not of a limited scale, as far as the allegations leveled by Justice (R) Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui are concerned, such hearings are If proved, any violation of the administrative officials is determined and thus the confidence of the people in the judiciary is restored.
Regarding the meeting of the Supreme Court, it has been said that in the declaration, it has been said that there was a consensus in the full court only on the meeting of the Chief Justice with the Prime Minister and that such consensus on the formation of an inquiry commission under the Inquiry Act, 2017. Not mentioned.
The joint statement said that we are extremely dissatisfied and disappointed with this move, which itself is against the principle of independence of judiciary.
It should be noted that after Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Qazi Faiz Isa and Supreme Court’s most senior judge Justice Mansoor Ali Shah met with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Prime Minister of Law Nazir Tarar and Attorney General, the federal government converted former Chief Justice Tasadeq Hussain Jilani to Islam. The head of the commission has been appointed to investigate the allegations of the judges of the High Court.
After the approval of the Federal Cabinet, TORs have also been issued for the commission, which includes the appointment of responsible persons and proposals, the inquiry report will be submitted within two months and the commission can seek cooperation from whoever it wants. .
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