ISLAMABAD – A Supreme Court larger bench comprising six judges is scheduled to hear the case regarding the letters from six judges of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on April 30.
The cause list has been issued by the registrar office of the top court, indicating that several petitions will be collectively addressed on Tuesday.
Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa will lead the hearing, joined by Justices Mansoor Ali Shah, Jamal Khan Mandokhail, Athar Minallah, Musarrat Hilali, and Naeem Akhtar Afghan.
The suo moto case had its initial hearing on April 3. On March 25, six judges of the IHC expressed concerns about “interference of intelligence agencies in judicial matters” in a letter to the Supreme Judicial Council.
The judges include Mohsin Akhtar Kiyani, Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, Babar Sattar, Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan, Arbab Muhammad Tahir, and Saman Rafat Imtiaz.
In response, the IHC held a full court meeting chaired by Chief Justice Aamer Farooq to devise institutional responses to any interference in court affairs. Earlier, the Islamabad High Court chief justice had solicited suggestions from all judges, including those from district and sessions courts, on addressing the issue.
The Supreme Court, earlier this month, took suo moto notice and hinted at constituting a full court to address the matter, after the federal government’s attempt with a one-man inquiry commission was halted due to the head’s refusal to proceed.
The Islamabad High Court Bar Association filed a constitutional petition in the Supreme Court, urging for a transparent and fair investigation into the allegations of interference in judicial affairs made by the six judges.
The petitioner calls for action against those found guilty of influencing the judiciary, emphasizing the importance of an independent judiciary as the protector of the Constitution and the sole source of justice, with no compromise on its independence acceptable under any circumstances.
