Judges letter on IHC full court agenda

Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Aamer Farooq summoned a full court meeting on Tuesday (today) afternoon to deliberate upon a letter written by six judges to the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC), sources said on Monday.

They said that the meeting, which had been scheduled for 2.30pm, was called at the end of April 22 deadline for the judges to submit their suggestions on the matter. The suggestions were sought from all the high court justices, as well as two district and sessions judges of Islamabad.

Last month, six IHC judges addressed a letter to the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC), highlighting alleged interference by agencies in judicial affairs, including attempts to pressure judges and conduct secret surveillance in their homes.

Dated March 25, the letter, signed by IHC Justices Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, Babar Sattar, Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan, Arbab Muhammad Tahir, and Saman Rafat Imtiaz, outlined seven instances of such alleged interference and intimidation by intelligence officials.

The open letter, copies of which were distributed to all apex court judges, suggested the possibility of a judicial convention to discuss the interference of intelligence operatives with judicial functions and the intimidation of judges, which undermines judicial independence.

In response, the Supreme Court initiated suo motu proceedings based on the letter, soliciting input from all high court judges on the matter.

Following the Supreme Court's directive, the IHC chief justice requested suggestions from the judges by Monday.