IHC bars entry of intelligence officials within courtrooms

Action comes after IHC judges’ allege interference by intelligence agencies

KARACHI:

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) barred on Thursday the entry of officials belonging to intelligence agencies within the premises of courtrooms. 

The decision was taken by Justice Tariq Mahmood Jahangiri and was confirmed by a police official posted at the IHC. 

The decision comes after a letter by six IHC judges alleging "interference" of intelligence agencies in the affairs of the courts.

Read All IHC judges agree on agencies' ‘interference'

In a shocking move on March 27, six judges of the IHC — Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kiyani, Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, Justice Babar Sattar, Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan, Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir, and Justice Saman Rafat Imtiaz - penned a letter to the SJC, led by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, expressing concerns about the "interference" of intelligence agencies in the affairs of the courts.

The judges underscored the absence of clear guidelines within the council's prescribed code of conduct for judges regarding the appropriate response to incidents that encroach upon judicial independence.

"We, therefore, request that a judicial convention be called to consider the matter of interference of intelligence operatives with judicial functions and/or intimidation of judges in a manner that undermines the independence of the judiciary,” the letter added.