Army seeks SC probe into IHC judge's allegations

CJP Nisar takes notice of the IHC judge's speech, seeks recording from PEMRA

ISLAMABAD/ KARACHI: Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar on Sunday took notice of Islamabad High Court Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui’s speech accusing the country’s premier intelligence agency manipulated judicial proceedings.

While hearing cases at the Supreme Court’s Karachi Registry, Justice Nisar remarked that he was deeply saddened by the IHC judge’s comments.

Siddiqui made the remarks at an event hosted by the Rawalpindi Bar Association on Saturday.

The top judge has called for the complete record of Justice Siddiqui’s speech from the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra).

Asserting that the judiciary was under no pressure, the chief justice said the judges have complete faith in the supremacy of law and worked in accordance with the Constitution.

Also on Sunday, the Pakistan Army requested the country’s top court to initiate the appropriate process to ascertain the veracity of the allegations levelled by Justice Siddiqui.

A statement issued by the military’s media wing said that a judge of the IHC had levelled serious allegations against state institutions including the judiciary and intelligence agency.



“In order to safeguard the sanctity and credibility of the state institutions, Honourable Supreme Court of Pakistan has been requested to initiate the appropriate process to ascertain the veracity of the allegations and take actions accordingly,” added the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

In his speech, Justice Siddiqui had claimed that members of intelligence agencies had approached the IHC chief justice seeking assurances that deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and son-in-law Captain (retd) Safdar would remain behind the bars until July 25 – the election day.

Furthermore, he alleged how judges of superior and subordinate courts gave in to pressure from the agency, especially, in the proceedings against the members of the Sharif family.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, legal experts said the latest speech may lead to contempt proceedings against Justice Siddiqui. He may also be suspended from carrying out judicial responsibilities, they added.



Furthermore, he had alleged how judges of superior and subordinate courts gave in to pressure from the agency, especially, in the proceedings against the members of the Sharif family.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, legal experts said the latest speech may lead to contempt proceedings against Justice Siddiqui. He may also be suspended from carrying out judicial responsibilities, they added.

Justice Siddiqui seeks judicial probe by retired SC judge

Meanwhile, Justice Siddiqui wrote a letter to CJP Saqib Nisar, requesting to constitute a commission led by a retired Supreme Court judge to probe his claims. The letter read that a retired judge of the apex court, who did not take oath under PCO, should head the commission.

He also demanded that the proposed commission proceedings should be opened, wherein lawyers and media should be allowed.

Justice Siddiqui is currently facing a misconduct reference.

In February, the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) served another show-cause notice on Justice Siddiqui for questioning the role of the army in the matter relating to the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) Faizabad sit-in last year. Later, the judge submitted a reply in this regard, but the council rejected it.