ISLAMABAD: On Friday, six judges of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) met with Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi to express their concerns regarding the challenges they encounter while performing their judicial duties.
The meeting garnered significant attention on social media, with some users claiming it took place shortly after the CJP took his oath of office on October 26. While there was no official confirmation regarding this meeting until late Friday night (Nov 1), it was reported that CJP Afridi, upon assuming his role, had previously met with IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq, who also chairs the high court’s administrative committee. Sources indicated that the CJP had invited other IHC judges as well. The six judges who met with the CJP included Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kiani, Justice Babar Sattar, Justice Tariq Mahmood Jehangiri, Justice Ijaz Ishaq Khan, Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir, and Justice Saman Riffat.
During the meeting, the judges conveyed their grievances and the difficulties they face in executing their judicial responsibilities. A YouTuber claimed that the CJP reassured the IHC judges that there would be no Supreme Court interference in their work. He further stated that the Chief Justice promised to address any issues arising from external interference in the judges’ judicial functions.
It’s important to note that on March 25, a letter from the six IHC judges emerged, in which they requested former Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Qazi Faez Isa to convene a Judicial Convention to discuss concerns over interference in judicial duties and the intimidation of judges, which could compromise the independence of the judiciary.
