IHC judges’ letter: CJP Isa-led larger bench to hear suo motu case on 30th

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday constituted a new bench led by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa to hear suo motu case on the Islamabad High Court (IHC) judges’ letter accusing spy agencies of meddling in judicial affairs.

The apex court bench was reconstituted after Justice Yahya Afridi recused himself from hearing the case earlier this month.

According to a cause list issued by the apex court, a six-member bench led by CJP Isa and comprising Justice Syed Mansoor Ali

Shah, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhel, Justice Athar Minallah, Justice Musarrat Hilali and Justice Naeem Akhtar Afgan will now hear the matter on April 30 (Tuesday).

On March 25, six judges of the IHC had demanded CJP Isa convene the judicial convention to consider the matter of alleged interference of intelligence operatives in the judicial functions or “intimidation” of judges in a manner that undermined the independence of the judiciary.

The Supreme Court on April 1 took suo motu notice of the IHC judges’ letter and formed a seven-member bench led by CJP Isa to hear the matter.

Following the maiden hearing of the case on April 3, Justice Yahya Aridi, who was part of the larger bench, recused himself from hearing the suo motu case taken up under Article 184(3) of the Constitution.