CJP, PM agree to probe claims of Six Judges; Interference in judicial affairs will not be tolerated: CJP Isa

Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif agreed on Thursday to establish a commission to examine claims of judicial interference made by judges from the Islamabad High Court. This decision came after the cabinet’s endorsement.

The commission will be set up under the Pakistan Commissions of Inquiry Act, 2017 once it obtains the federal cabinet’s approval on Saturday.

Accompanying the prime minister in his meeting with the chief justice, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar informed the press that the cabinet is scheduled to meet on Friday to discuss the commission’s appointment. The commission’s terms of reference will be drafted by Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan. Subsequently, it was revealed that the cabinet meeting was rescheduled for Saturday.

A statement from the Supreme Court mentioned that a full court meeting resumed on Thursday following the CJP and PM’s meeting, even though no decision was made in the prior session.

The statement reiterated the CJP’s position: Executive interference in judicial functioning and independence is unacceptable and will not be endured under any circumstances.

In the session, they proposed to form an inquiry commission led by a retired judge with distinguished integrity to investigate these issues, as per the statement.

It was further noted that the prime minister pledged to safeguard judicial independence through adequate actions, including issuing instructions to concerned departments and introducing legislation aligned with paragraph 53 of the suo motu action in the Faizabad sit-in judgment.