What happened to the judges who gave verdict in favor of Imran Khan?

ISLAMABAD: Six judges from the Islamabad High Court (IHC) have written a letter to the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) expressing concerns over alleged interference by executive and intelligence agencies in judicial matters.

According to the letter, a dispute arose among the judges over Chief Justice Aamir Farooq’s decision to hear the Tyrian White case.

While Chief Justice Farooq deemed the case admissible, other judges found it inadmissible. It was alleged in the letter that operatives of the ISI put immense pressure on judges who ruled against declaring the case inadmissible.

This matter was initially brought before the Chief Justice of the Islamabad High Court and then to the Chief Justice of Pakistan. However, despite assurances from the Chief Justice of Pakistan that such incidents would not occur in the future, the interference continued unabated.

The letter, signed by Justices Mohsin Akhtar Kiyani, Tariq Mahmood Jahangiri, and Babar Sattar, among others, also highlights various incidents of interference.

In May 2023, the brother of a judge from the High Court was reportedly abducted, and a secret camera was discovered in the residence of another judge. Despite the judges urging action against those interfering, no action was taken by the Chief Justice of the High Court.

Moreover, the letter calls for a judicial convention to address instances of interference by intelligence agencies and the undue influence on judges. It emphasizes the need to safeguard the independence of the judiciary and seeks assistance from the convention to ensure it.

The judges also allege attempts to pressure them into making engineered decisions and raise concerns about their safety and privacy.

This letter marks a significant development in the ongoing debate regarding the independence of the judiciary in Pakistan. It underscores the challenges faced by judges in carrying out their duties impartially and without external influence.

Read more: IHC Judges raise concerns over intelligence agency interference in judicial cases

The Supreme Judicial Council has been forwarded a copy of the letter for further consideration, indicating the seriousness of the concerns raised by the judges.