learnedutoday
The federal government’s stance on the recent letter from six judges of the Islamabad High Court alleging interference in judicial affairs by intelligence agencies remains unclear, with indications suggesting it views the matter as an “internal” one, likely to be resolved within the judiciary itself. Meanwhile, within the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), disquiet is growing as the association grapples with formulating a response to the letter. Despite the SC’s directive to provide proposals for ensuring judicial independence, there seems to be hesitancy within the SCBA to convene a meeting to chart a course of action. While some members have urged for urgent discussions, citing the importance of upholding judicial independence and addressing allegations of executive interference, no such meeting has been scheduled yet.
On the other hand, the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) has already convened a meeting and passed a resolution calling for an impartial investigation by a judicial commission. Similarly, the federal government appears reluctant to provide a response directly to the Supreme Court, viewing it as an institutional matter. As petitions flood the apex court on the issue, the judiciary is likely to play a pivotal role in determining the course of action moving forward.
Haseeb Abdullah
