In a significant development, Chief Justice Malik Shahzad Ahmad of the Lahore High Court (LHC) issued a stern warning to state departments for their alleged harassment and threats towards the judiciary. The remarks were part of a written order in a case involving reported threats to a Sargodha anti-terrorism court (ATC) judge by intelligence and law enforcement agencies.
The controversy began when District & Sessions Judge (DSJ) Muhammad Abbas, newly appointed as the Sargodha ATC judge, reported on June 7 that an Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) authority had attempted to meet him on his first day. After declining the meeting, DSJ Abbas experienced harassment, including firing outside his court and questioning of his family members.
CJ Ahmad, addressing the severity of these incidents, noted in his written order that it is the state’s duty to protect and respect the courts. However, the reports from Judge Abbas indicated that state departments were instead creating serious threats and obstacles for the judiciary. The chief justice criticized the Punjab police chief’s response as “highly unsatisfactory,” highlighting the lack of investigation into the ISI’s involvement.
The written order detailed various instances of state interference, including 12 transfer applications by the Punjab prosecutor general citing a reference against the judge of Rawalpindi ATC-1. The applications suggested bias and malfeasance on the judge’s part, a claim countered by the judge, who described efforts by intelligence agencies and jail authorities to disrupt court proceedings, particularly in the May 9, 2023 case.
The LHC’s investigation revealed that accused individuals were not produced in court, lawyers were denied access to their clients, and court staff were mistreated. Such actions by state agencies were deemed deliberate attempts to undermine judicial authority.
As a result of these findings, CJ Ahmad issued contempt notices to the Sargodha district police officer, deputy superintendent of police, Counter-Terrorism Department regional officer, and the station house officer, demanding explanations for their actions. The order also called for reports from the federal interior and defence secretaries, emphasizing the gravity of the allegations against the ISI and other state entities.
The case has been adjourned to June 27 for further hearing by Justice Shahid Karim, following CJ Ahmad’s elevation to the Supreme Court. Additionally, all relevant reports have been forwarded to the Supreme Court registrar for consideration in a similar ongoing case regarding judicial interference.
This decisive action by CJ Ahmad highlights the judiciary’s resistance to intimidation and underscores the importance of maintaining judicial independence and integrity against external pressures.
