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.
Three recent Supreme Court decisions have granted electoral bonds unconstitutional, granted interim bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, and granted bail to the founder of NewsClick, Prabir Purkayastha. These decisions have challenged state excesses and harmed the ruling party’s interests. However, they have also been met with criticism and attacks on the legitimacy of the Supreme Court. These attacks are part of a larger trend of abuse of the judiciary, which is being exploited by those who seek to subvert the legitimacy of the court. The judiciary and the wider legal fraternity must counter these online threats by dispelling misinformation and exposing bad faith propaganda. Public trust is the judiciary’s greatest ally, and it must be restored by improving service delivery, increasing diversity in appointments, and improving the Court’s counter-majoritarian spine.
