Attorney General for Pakistan Mansoor Usman Awan in a rare press talk on Tuesday refuted allegations of the government or any other state institution interfering in judicial matters.
Awan’s remarks came shortly after the IHC began hearing two contempt pleas pertaining to the character assassination of IHC’s Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani on social media and the leaking of Justice Babar Sattar’s personal details.
Awan maintained that it is necessary to issue clarification as the matter of the IHC judges’ letter is being presented in a manner that implies a growing conflict between the executive and the judiciary.
“It was requested to hear surveillance-related matters in-camera, to ensure the matter does not go into the public domain in order to protect the capabilities of our security and intelligence agencies,” the AGP maintained, adding that this was communicated to the relevant quarters.
He clarified that the office of the AGP and the AAG acts as a “bridge” to facilitate communication. “Neither the government or any state institution can meddle in the affairs of the judiciary and I strongly deny any such impression.”
“According to my information, no officer of any security establishment has contacted or can contact [any member of the judiciary]. And the contact that was made, was done through the AGP’s office to ensure sensitive information was not made public.”
Speaking about the judge’s letter, the AGP said the communication between state institutions regarding “sensitive matters is imperative in the view of security situation” that Pakistan has been facing for the last 45 years.
AGP Awan said the judge only requested that in the audio leak case briefing on the matters related to surveillance should be held in-camera.
Islamabad High Court Judge Justice Babar Sattar has formally informed High Court CJ Aamer Farooq about the meddling by the secularity establishment in judicial affairs, revealed well-placed sources on Tuesday.
In a letter to IHC CJ Farooq, Justice Sattar said that he was delivered messages on behalf of top officials in the security establishment asking him to “back-off” from extensive scrutiny of the existence and mode of surveillance in the audio leak case.
Justice Sattar reported the incident of meddling in line with the IHC’s recommendations to deter meddling.
Giving details, Justice Sattar informed that IHC CJ that he did not pay any attention to the “threatening tactic.”
