Balochistan Bar Council Stands Firm Against Judicial Interference

In a significant development, the Balochistan Bar Council has taken a firm stand against alleged interference by state institutions in judicial affairs. This move comes in support of six judges from the Islamabad High Court who raised concerns about coercive tactics being used to influence judicial decisions.

The constitutional petition, filed by Hamid Khan Advocate on behalf of the bar council, calls for a declaration from the Supreme Court that such actions are unconstitutional and pose a threat to the rule of law, access to justice, and the independence of the judiciary.

The petition specifically names the federation and the government of Pakistan as respondents, seeking a directive for the government to address any unlawful interference with court affairs and implement measures to prevent future incidents.

Following the submission of the petition, the Supreme Court took suo motu notice of the matter and initiated an inquiry into the allegations raised by the IHC judges. The IHC, in a recent full court meeting, unanimously acknowledged the interference of intelligence agencies in their judicial functions and vowed to establish new standard operating procedures to combat such interference.

Both the Lahore and Peshawar High Courts have also held meetings to address similar concerns, with all judges emphasizing that any external interference in judicial matters will not be tolerated.

The legal fraternity in Pakistan is standing united in its resolve to safeguard the independence of the judiciary and ensure that the rule of law prevails. The petition filed by the Balochistan Bar Council underscores the gravity of the situation and the urgent need to address any attempts to undermine the judiciary's autonomy.