Lahore High Court Chief Justice Addresses Judicial Independence Concerns

The Lahore High Court Chief Justice Malik Shehzad Ahmed Khan has called for a full court meeting on April 22 to address concerns regarding the protection of judicial independence. The meeting aims to establish a mechanism to hold accountable those who undermine this freedom. This decision follows the Supreme Court's directions in a recent hearing.

Six Islamabad High Court judges raised allegations of interference in judicial affairs by the country's intelligence agencies. The judges reported instances of pressure, abduction, torture of relatives, and surveillance inside their homes. This led to calls for a probe into the matter.

Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa initiated a full court meeting to address the concerns. Following discussions with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, a commission was formed to investigate the interference in judicial affairs. However, the appointed head of the commission recused himself, prompting the Supreme Court to take suo motu notice of the issue.

The IHC judges detailed several instances of interference and intimidation, including pressure from intelligence officials to influence case outcomes. They highlighted the need to protect judicial independence and ensure accountability for such actions.

The judges emphasized the importance of addressing incidents that intimidate and interfere with judicial independence. They called for a judicial convention to further discuss these critical issues.

The upcoming full court meeting at the Lahore High Court signifies a crucial step towards safeguarding judicial independence and holding accountable those who seek to undermine it. The discussions and decisions made during this meeting are expected to have a significant impact on the protection of the judiciary's autonomy and integrity.