The Lahore High Court has ordered the Pakistan Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) to prevent intelligence agencies and the military from contacting judges. This follows complaints from judges about alleged pressure and interference from these powerful institutions. The order comes as a significant step towards ensuring judicial independence in Pakistan.
Multiple lawyers’ organizations have approached the Supreme Court of Pakistan, urging the formation of a full court to address allegations of interference in judicial matters by intelligence agencies. The petitions request the court to provide guidelines for preventing future incidents and to ensure severe punishment for those responsible for such interference.
In a significant development, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) has unanimously agreed to provide an institutional response to any interference in the court’s affairs, according to well-placed sources. The full court meeting, chaired by Chief Justice Aamer Farooq, finalized proposals to submit to the Supreme Court regarding alleged meddling by intelligence agencies in judicial matters. Six judges of the IHC had previously written to the Supreme Judicial Council, seeking guidance on such interference. The Supreme Court initiated suo motu proceedings and sought suggestions from various stakeholders. In response, the IHC’s full court meeting suggested an institutional response to address such issues, suggesting a draft of proposals to be submitted to the Supreme Court within the April 25th deadline.
