CJP does not have right to ridicule judges: IHC judge

Summons DG ISI, defence secretary in case concerning encroachment

ISLAMABAD:  

Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday appealed to Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Mian Saqib Nisar to respect fellow judges and do not pass personal or derogatory comments against judges of other courts.

The IHC judge lamented that the top judge has the right to annul verdicts but he did not have the right to insult another judge in an open court.

He remarked that judges who are ridiculed by the CJP will be bound to respond to the comments, which will be damaging to the judicial institution.

Justice Siddiqui made the comments in response to the CJP’s remarks that the “order [of the private school fee case] shows the mindset of the author judge” while hearing a case regarding encroachments in the capital.



Meanwhile, Justice Shaukat summoned Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Director General Lieutenant General Naveed Mukthar and the defence secretary on July 4 in the case regarding encroachments in the federal capital.

Earlier, the court directed the Ministry of Defence and the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to remove barricades and open a public road in front of the ISI headquarters near Aabpara within a week.

Representatives from the defence ministry informed the court that the road was blocked along with green belt measuring about 40 kanals near the premises of the ISI headquarters due to security reasons.

On Friday, the court also brought up the matter of road blockage by two private TV channels due to work being carried out at the premises.

CDA Land and engineering Director Syed Jawad Muzaffar said that the complaint regarding illegal construction was received earlier and demarcation was carried out. “However, fresh demarcation is still required through the land survey department,” he added.

Muzaffar said, “If the complaint is still found valid, remedial steps to remove encroachment through CDA will be taken.”

Officials of Islamabad Capital Territory, CDA, and senior superintendent of police (SSP) Traffic will also appear in the court to make statements on steps taken to remove the encroachments.



On June 22, IHC directed the Ministry of Defence and the CDA to remove barricades and open a public road in front of the agency’s headquarters. Justice Siddiqui had observed in his written order that if required, the agency should take security measures within the limits of its premises and not on public space.

“Therefore, it is in the interest and prestige of the institution of the army that encroachment be removed immediately, but not later than one week that is 29-06-2018,” the court order read, adding it would harm the institution’s reputation if the court order is executed by the CDA enforcement staff.

The court had also observed that there was no permission from the CDA for blocking the road and that this blockade was also against the city’s plan. The court would resume hearing on July 4.