Interference in judicial affairs: Aitzaz files plea in SC for 3-member commission

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) was requested Tuesday to form a three-member commission comprising sitting judges of SC to determine which officers and operatives of spy agency or other persons, if any, are or were involved in unlawful acts.

Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan filed a petition in the SC under Article 184(3) of Constitution. Aitzaz requested the court a bench of all available judges of SC should hear the matter under Article 184(3) on the grounds independence of judiciary is a salient feature of Constitution and must be safeguarded. A seven-member bench of SC, headed by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, will hear Wednesday (today) the suo moto case on the letter of six judges of Islamabad High Court regarding alleged interference of intelligence agencies in the judicial affairs. Aitzaz Ahsan submitted the letter of IHC judges raises questions about the conduct of intelligence operatives and executive, adding in order to protect and enforce access to justice and all related fundamental rights, it is imperative that it is determined who is responsible.

“In the present case, the executive is the accused and it does not matter who is heading the commission,” Ahsan submitted. For an independent and impartial inquiry, the government must have no role in the inquiry, and any role by the government in the inquiry constitutes a conflict of interest, he added.