Federal Cabinet denies allegation of executive interference in judicial matters as leveled by six honorable judges in the letter
PM Shehbaz reaffirms his resolve for the independence of the judiciary & principle of constitutional separation of powers
The Cabinet fully endorsed and supported the Prime Minister’s decisions and actions taken so far in this regard.
Former CJP Tassaduq Hussain Jillani to ‘head’ probe commission into six IHC judges’ allegations
TORs for the commission to be prepared by Law Minister & Attorney General of Pakistan
Commission will submit its report in 60 days after completing the inquiry into the allegations
ISLAMABAD ( Web News )
The Federal Cabinet has denied the allegation of executive interference in judicial matters as leveled by the six honorable judges in the letter and termed it inappropriate.
Federal cabinet meeting was held on Saturday under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif.
The Federal Cabinet also approved the name of former Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice retired Tassaduq Hussain Jillani as head of the inquiry commission to probe into the issues raised by six judges of Islamabad High Court in a letter.
The meeting discussed the letter written by judges of Islamabad High Court to Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa. The proposal for constituting an inquiry commission had come up during meeting between Prime Minister and the Chief Justice on Thursday.
According to the TORs for inquiry as approved by the cabinet, the Commission will thoroughly look into the details of the allegations and issues taken up in the letter. On the basis of its investigation the Commission will suggest action against any officer, department or institution found involved in the matter.
The Commission will also have power to probe any other matter it deems necessary during the course of inquiry.
The Cabinet members were of the unanimous opinion that the Constitution of Pakistan enunciates the principle of separation of powers among the state institutions.
On the occasion, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed his resolve for independence of judiciary and principle of constitutional separation of powers.
He took the cabinet members into confidence about his consultation and meeting with the Chief Justice of Pakistan after the letter.
The Cabinet fully endorsed and supported the Prime Minister’s decisions and actions taken so far in this regard.
Former CJP Tassaduq Hussain Jillani to ‘head’ probe commission into six IHC judges’ allegations
The federal cabinet on Saturday “approved” constitution of an inquiry commission over allegations of six Islamabad High Court (IHC) judges and appointed former chief justice of Pakistan Justice (retd) Tassaduq Hussain Jillani as its head.
The terms of reference (TORs) for the commission will be prepared by Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar and Attorney General of Pakistan Mansoor Usman Awan. The commission will submit its report in 60 days after completing the inquiry into the allegations.
According to media reports, the one-member commission would hold inquiry into the allegations leveled by the judges in a letter to the Chief Justice of Pakistan justice Qazi Faez Isa.
The IHC judges — Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, Justice Babar Sattar, Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan, Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir, and Justice Saman Fafat Imtiaz — had on March 26 sent a letter to the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC), urging it to convene a judicial convention over the alleged interference of intelligence agencies in judicial affairs.
In response to the letter, Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa had on March 28 said that meddling by the executive in the affairs and “judicial workings of Judges will not be tolerated” come what may.
He had said this during a meeting with Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif at the Supreme Court in Islamabad. The chief justice and PM had agreed in the meeting to form an inquiry commission.
A five-point agenda of the federal cabinet meeting, presided by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, was issued which included discussion of the said letter and approval for setting up of an investigation commission on the allegations leveled in the letter.
The cabinet meeting was held on Zoom as most of the ministers participated online.
While talking to a private TV channel, Justice (retd) Tassaduq Hussain Jillani expressed his willingness to head the commission. The cabinet session was held with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in chair.