KARACHI: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa on Thursday said he did not receive any note of grievance from any high court judge on meddling of other institutions in judicial process.
“Since I have been chief justice [of Supreme Court of Pakistan], I have not received a single complaint from any high court judge that there has been any interference in their work,” Justice Isa said while speaking at the Sindh High Court Bar Association (SHCBA).
“Now, if there has been any interference in their work, it has not been reported to me, and all the incidents that were mentioned were before my watch… before I took the oath as the CJP.
“So, this is a thing to bear in mind that interference is not acceptable but at the same time nothing has been reported to me during… my watch.”
He said a mention was made of the support that the SHCBA extended to the six judges of the Islamabad High Court (IHC), who had written to him as well. “I thank them on their behalf,” the CJP added.
Last month, six judges of the IHC — Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kiyani, Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, Justice Babar Sattar, Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan, Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir, and Justice Saman Rafat Imtiaz — wrote a letter to the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC), seeking its guidance on alleged “interference” of intelligence agencies in the court affairs.
Later, the apex court initiated suo motu proceedings on the letter and sought a proposal from the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC), Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), high courts and the federal government in this regard.
Taking a strong stance against the alleged meddling, a full court meeting of the IHC on Tuesday “unanimously decided” to give an “institutional response” to any external interference, well-placed sources said. The IHC full court meeting was held with Chief Justice Aamer Farooq in the chair to finalise proposals before submission to the Supreme Court in connection with the matter related to alleged interference.
Meanwhile, hearing multiple cases at the SC Karachi Registry, the Supreme Court directed the authorities to remove the barriers placed outside various buildings, including Sindh Rangers headquarters, Chief Minister’s House and Governor’s House, and present the report within three days. “No one is allowed to obstruct the free movement of people [...] Blocking roads and creating obstacles is illegal,” CJP Isa said, leading a three-member bench comprising Justice Naeem Akhtar Afgan and Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail.
At the onset of the hearing, the chief justice underscored that the federal and provincial governments themselves are encroaching the lands and directed the authorities to “clear” the roads. Ordering the attorney general to inform the federal government, the apex court directed the authorities to send a copy of the court order to all the institutions concerned, including those relating to security. “The expenses related to the removal of encroachments should also be collected from the encroachers,” CJP Isa said.
Responding to the argument that barricades are raised due to security concerns, the top judge said: “The public continues to be attacked [but] you get to remain safe? What kind of law is this? If you feel too scared, go and sit in a remote area.”
Directing the authorities to abstain from blocking the roads under the pretext of security, he said, “Why don’t you remove encroachments in front of [Sindh] Rangers headquarters?”, questioning the law under which Jinnah Court premises were handed over to the Rangers. “Place the [security] containers inside the Governor’s House. Why do you put it outside?”
He stressed that encroachments should be removed even if they are within the premises of the SC itself.
Juctice Isa said that he had told the Sindh IGP not to place ‘route’ for him and if the ‘route’ was placed, the court would take contempt notice. “Life is short, should we keep saving it.” The case was then adjourned till Friday (today).
