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LAHORE: Following the letter from six distinguished judges of the Islamabad High Court highlighting ISI’s involvement in judicial affairs, another District Judge has now written to the Lahore High Court, alleging direct interference by ISI in court operations, particularly to influence the 9 May trials and their outcomes.
According to reports, Judge Justice Muhammad Abbas of Sargodha Anti-Terrorism Court has documented several incidents. He informed the High Court that upon assuming his duties, ISI officers sought a meeting in his chamber, which he declined. Subsequently, he and his family have faced continuous harassment, including incidents like damaging the gas meter and firing shots near the court meter.
In response to these developments, the Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court has summoned IG Punjab, RPO, and DPO Sargodha in a personal capacity, while also demanding explanations from intelligence agencies.
Earlier in March, six judges of the Islamabad High Court had appealed to the Supreme Judicial Council to address alleged interference by Pakistan’s powerful intelligence agencies in the judiciary. The judges signing the letter dated March 25 were Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, Justice Babar Sattar, Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan, Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir, and Justice Saman Rafat Imtiaz. The letter emphasized the need to uphold judicial independence through collective action.