Tag: Judicial matters

  • Faisal Vawda demands ‘evidence’ of interference in judicial matters

    Faisal Vawda demands ‘evidence’ of interference in judicial matters

    Independent Senator Faisal Vawda has criticised judges of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) for their letter accusing spy agencies of interfering in judicial matters, saying we should stop targeting institutions.

    “Stop targeting the institutions, enough is enough. If there is any interference by institutions, then provide evidence, and we will stand together [against it],” said the former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader during a press conference. 

    Vawda’s remarks came after he filed an application to ask the IHC registrar about revealing the exchange of a letter between former IHC chief justice Athar Minallah and IHC’s Justice Babar Sattar regarding Justice Sattar’s green card.

    The senator wrote a letter, mentioning the social media campaigns against Justice Babar Sattar, accusing him of holding dual nationality and business interests in a private school in the country.

    “A press release was issued that said Justice Sattar is Pakistani, but I didn’t get a reply. CJP Qazi Faez Isa, under Article 19, ordered that every Pakistani can get an answer,” he said.

    The former PTI leader stated that judges should be transparent and away from accusations.

    Vawda stressed that the accusations made by the IHC judges kept mentioning the names of agencies repeatedly. “Give evidence, and we will stand beside you,” he added.

  • Judges’ letter: Justice Yahya Afridi recuses from suo moto case

    Judges’ letter: Justice Yahya Afridi recuses from suo moto case

    Justice Yahya Afridi of the Supreme Court has withdrawn himself from the suo motu case that the apex court took up after receiving a letter from Islamabad High Court (IHC) judges, alleging complaints about intelligence agencies interfering in judicial matters.

    Justice Afridi, who was part of the seven-member bench hearing the case, added his recusal in a note attached to the written order issued after the first hearing.

    The judge said the judges should consider the issues in the letter from the IHC judges according to the code of conduct of the Supreme Judicial Council.
    “High Courts are independent courts under the Constitution. Article 184/3 should not be invoked on independence of high courts,” Justice Yahya maintained.
    The seven-member bench conducting the hearing of suo motu case is headed by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa and comprised six other judges — Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Yahya Afridi, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhel, Justice Athar Minallah, Justice Musarrat Hilali and Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan.