IHC recommendations on purported involvement in judicial matters are sent to the SC.

ISLAMABAD — The Islamabad High Court has sent its recommendations to the Supreme Court, following a full-court conference called in response to the top court’s instructions and following complaints by six high court judges over suspected intelligence agency meddling in legal proceedings.

The IHC justices unanimously suggested that in the case of an interference, all civil, session, and high court judges report to their respective senior judges.

The suggestions include that all judges must disclose interference within seven days, and failing to do so will result in the judge being found guilty of misconduct.

Regarding incidents of interference, the suggestions include that a civil judge must report to the session judge, who will subsequently notify the high court inspection judge. The inspection judge will then elevate the case to the chief justice of the high court.

The judges suggested that the high court administrative committee make the ultimate decision on whether to handle the case administratively or judicially.

The proposals say that the administrative committee can also submit the matter to the whole court, depending on the gravity of the situation, and that the high court can eventually use its discretion to deal with contempt of court in line with institutional accords.

On March 25, six Islamabad High Court justices wrote to the Supreme Judicial Council against ‘intervention of intelligence services in judicial proceedings’.

The judges were 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.

Earlier this month, the Supreme Court took suo motu notice and hinted at convening a full court to hear the case. Prior to that, the federal government established a one-man inquiry committee, which was unable to commence any proceedings due to the reluctance of its chairman, former Chief Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani.

Following this, Chief Justice Isa solicited feedback from all IHC justices on the need of convening a full court on this major matter.

Last week, IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq called a conference of all IHC justices, who prepared recommendations together.