Pak Judge Steps Down from Case Alleging External Interference

Representative Image (Photo/Reuters)

Asif Iqbal | April 12, 2024 | 09:17 AM IST | Asia, Pakistan News, World | Follow on Google News

Pak Judge Steps Down from Case Alleging External Interference

Pak Judge Steps Down from Case Alleging External Interference

Justice Yahya Afridi, one of the judges on the seven-member bench examining allegations of Pakistan intelligence agencies meddling in judicial matters, has stepped down from the suo motu case being heard by the Supreme Court, according to a report by Geo News. His recusal was mentioned in a note accompanying the written order issued after the initial hearing.

Justice Afridi highlighted that the issues outlined in the letter from Islamabad High Court (IHC) judges should be assessed in line with the code of conduct of the Supreme Judicial Council. He emphasized the independence of high courts under the constitution, suggesting that invoking Article 184/3 could jeopardize this independence.

Pak Judge Steps Down from Case:Independence of High Courts at Stake

The seven-member bench, presided over by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, includes six other judges: Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhel, Justice Athar Minallah, Justice Musarrat Hilali, and Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan. Chief Justice Isa has underscored the seriousness of the issue, affirming the Supreme Court’s commitment to preserving judicial autonomy.

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In his note, Justice Yahya expressed concerns that while the suo motu notice was initiated with good intentions, it could potentially undermine the independence of high courts and their chief justices. Justice Athar Minallah appended an additional note, expressing reservations about certain paragraphs of the written order. He pointed to the possibility of political interference in cases and referenced past instances where such interference was acknowledged by the court.

Pak Judge Steps Down from Case:Judges as Whistleblowers

Describing the IHC judges as “whistleblowers,” Justice Minallah stressed the seriousness of the issues raised in their letter. He noted that despite their repeated attempts to address the matter through appropriate channels, there was a lack of response from relevant institutions. The judges’ actions, he argued, were in line with their oath-bound duty, and there is no basis to doubt their integrity.

The letter from six IHC judges, including Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, Justice Babar Sattar, Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir, Justice Tariq Mahmood Jehangiri, Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan, and Justice Saman Rifat Imtiaz, called for a Judicial Convention to address concerns regarding intelligence agency interference in judicial functions. Following the circulation of the letter and the gravity of its allegations, Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa convened a meeting to address the concerns raised by the judges.

Asif Iqbal

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