ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) has urged for a thorough investigation into any attempts to influence the judiciary.
The SCBA’s stance comes as it presents its recommendations to the Supreme Court, which recently took suo motu notice of letters penned by six judges from the Islamabad High Court, alleging interference in judicial matters.
In its submission, the bar association stressed the imperative of safeguarding the independence and integrity of the judiciary against external pressures. “There exists a code of conduct governing the responsibilities and protection of judges,” emphasized the SCBA.
Among the proposals submitted was the call for an inquiry into any instances of interference in judicial affairs. Additionally, the SCBA suggested that the Islamabad High Court should have utilized its authority to initiate contempt of court proceedings in response to such interference.
“It is perplexing that the high court did not pursue contempt of court charges,” remarked the bar association.
Expressing dismay over the leakage of the judges’ correspondence to the media, the Supreme Court Bar Association raised concerns regarding the confidentiality and integrity of judicial communications. It noted that the judges recounted events from the past year in their letters.
Furthermore, the SCBA underscored the protocol that if any judge has a grievance, they should first inform their chief justice. If the concerned Chief Justice fails to address the issue, it should then be escalated to the Supreme Judicial Council for further investigation and resolution.
