ISLAMABAD: Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar on Thursday said the federal government will submit a letter from six judges of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) alleging interference in judicial affairs by the country’s intelligence apparatus for the consideration of the federal cabinet to form a commission of inquiry.
Tarar was addressing a press conference in Islamabad after today’s meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa.
Earlier in the day, PM Shehbaz met CJP Isa at the Supreme Court, Radio Pakistan reported. Tarar and Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Usman Awan were also present at the meeting, according to state radio.
Legal experts pointed out that the meeting was far from routine and markedly different from the past interaction between former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and former CJP Saqib Nisar.
The development comes a day after the apex court held a full bench meeting to consider allegations leveled by six IHC judges — out of a total of eight — against interference in judicial affairs by the country’s intelligence apparatus.
An informed source told Dawn that yesterday’s meeting considered initiating suo motu proceedings under Article 184(3) of the Constitution in light of the letter, but no final decision was taken in this regard. AGP Awan also met CJP Isa on Wednesday and in an interaction with the media described the situation as “very alarming” which required a thorough investigation.
The law minister said after a meeting between the prime minister and the chief justice that the letter from the six IHC judges referred to events “of the past year [and] with a regime that is no longer in the courtroom, adding that most of the allegations in the letter related to “the function of the former chief justice of Pakistan”.
He said that CJP Isa had expressed his desire that the Prime Minister should talk to him about the matter and he readily agreed to prioritize the matter over all others due to the gravity of the development.
Tarar said the meeting participants discussed the issue as well as other important national issues such as tax and fiscal matters.
“Various aspects of the matter were discussed with regard to its seriousness and it was also discussed that this was not the first time and such voices had been heard earlier in history,” the minister was quoted as saying. on the case of former IHC judge Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui.
“The prime minister has directly said that there will be no compromise on the independence of the judiciary.
He added that the Prime Minister also assured that it was the government’s duty to ensure an investigation into the matter and that such allegations, if true, would not be repeated in future.
Stating that the matter needs to be investigated first, Tarar said it was decided that the government would table the judges’ letter before the federal cabinet meeting on Friday and the prime minister would seek a neutral, non-partisan and retired legal personality. be asked to lead a commission of inquiry and report after the inquiry in accordance with law.
The Law Minister said that Prime Minister Shehbaz also assured that Pakistan is a constitutional body in which all institutions fulfill their roles and remain in their respective domains.
“The prime minister has assured the chief justice and his judges that there should never be institutional interference and that the government’s commitments in this regard will be met.”
Tarar said Prime Minister Shehbaz also expressed his expectation that the institution would not cross its constitutional boundaries and domains.
The minister explained that he and the AGP will work on the initial terms of reference of the commission of inquiry, adding that they would include a probe not only into the current controversy but also into past events if the law or the cabinet allows.
He further stated that it was inappropriate to mention the names originally considered to head the commission as the cabinet has the authority in this matter. Tarar said the body would be informed within two to four days after Friday’s cabinet meeting.
The Law Minister said CJP Isa has also agreed to form a commission of inquiry. He explained that there is already a mechanism to investigate such matters done by the federal government and therefore it is better for a commission to investigate instead of a suo motu notice.
Asked if the letter amounted to misconduct by the judges, Tarar said the answer to that should come from the commission.
