Lahore (Web Desk): The Lahore High Court (LHC) has directed the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) to issue instructions to all civil and military agencies, including the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), to not contact any judge or member of their staff.
According to details, Justice Shahid Karim of LHC issued the directions in a 4-age written order which surfaced on Saturday, in response to a complaint filed by an anti-terrorism court (ATC) judge in Sargodha.
Former LHC Chief Justice Malik Shahzad Ahmad Khan had taken a suo motu notice on the judge’s complaint filed with the registrar and initiated proceedings. Following his elevation to the Supreme Court (SC), Justice Shahid Justice Karim presided over the case.
In the previous hearing, Justice Karim had remarked that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was responsible and answerable for the actions of intelligence agencies which fell under his authority.
In a written order dated June 27, the judge noted that it was “imperative” to proceed on certain issues that “regularly come before this court” and regarding which “directions are necessary to be issued in order to protect the independence of the judiciary”.
Subsequently, he ordered: “Instructions shall go out by the Prime Minister’s Office to all civil or military agencies including the Intelligence Bureau as well as Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) regarding strict directions not to approach or contact any judge whether of the superior judiciary or sub-ordinate judiciary or any member of their staff in future.”
Similar directions were also issued for the Punjab police.
The order further stated “Likewise, instructions shall be issued by the Inspector General of Police, Punjab to all police officers […] not to contact directly any judge of superior judiciary or the sub-ordinate judiciary regarding the merits of any pending judicial proceedings before these courts.”
It said that actions concerning the security of ATCs throughout Punjab would solely be implemented "with the consultation and agreement of the respected judge of that court and not otherwise". The order warned that the inspector general and police chief would be "held personally accountable" and face contempt proceedings if they disregarded the directive.
Justice Karim also directed ATC judges across Punjab to download call-recording applications on their mobile phones. “[They] shall be bound to record all such calls which they receive and with regard to which the learned judges have apprehension that they have been made to influence any judicial proceedings before them,” he said.
The order added “A direction is issued to the judges of ATCs across Punjab to deal and decide the cases relating to May 9, 2023, expeditiously and on priority.”
The court also directed the Sargodha ATC judge and his staff to cooperate in the investigation. “All investigation proceedings should be video recorded and the record shall be maintained by the police as also remitted to this court through the registrar,” it said.
Later, the court adjourned the hearing till July 8.