Civil society voices support for IHC six judges

MULTAN: Members of civil society organizations and labour unions have expressed solidarity with six judges of the Islamabad High Court and condemned unlawful inference and use of oppressive means by the executive, particularly the intelligence agencies, against the judiciary to obtain ‘positive’ decisions.

In a joint statement issued here on Tuesday, the civil society warmly welcomed the decision of Tassaduq Hussain Jilani to not head an inquiry commission, and formation of a seven-member bench under Article 184 (3) of Pakistan’s Constitution. They rejected the decision of the federal cabinet to constitute an inquiry commission to investigate allegations. The civil society believed that conducting an impartial inquiry would not be possible while all those state officials who were likely involved in the interference were still controlling the same intelligence agencies. Therefore, they should be suspended.

The civil society endorsed the statement of 300 lawyers and urged all social movements including labour, women, minorities, environmentalists, traders and intelligentsia to raise their voice against the unlawful interference of the executive in the matters of judiciary as it undermined democratic governance, the Constitution and rule of law and could provide a breeding ground to terrorist groups in the country. The civil society appealed to political parties whether they are in power or in opposition to refrain from politicizing the letter of the six judges and issue of the constitution of the inquiry commission. They appealed to the Supreme Court of Pakistan to broadcast live coverage of SC proceedings in the case.

The civil society members include Pattan-Coalition C-38 (members of 158 CSOs), Barrister Naseem Bajwa, head of Awaz-e-Khalq, Lateef Ansari, chairman, Pakistan Labour Qaumi Movement, and Ammar Ali Jan, secretary general, Haqooq-e-Khalq Party.