LHC directs PM Office to control civil, military agencies from interference in judiciary

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) has issued five-point standard operating procedures (SOPs) to prevent interference in the judiciary today.

LHC Justice Shahid Karim issued directions to the Prime Minister’s Office to instruct the Intelligence Bureau (IB), Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), and other civil and military agencies to refrain from approaching any judge of the superior judiciary or the sub-ordinate judiciary.

The suo motu notice was taken by former LHC chief justice Malik Shahzad Ahmad Khan on the ATC judge’s complaint. Following his elevation to the Supreme Court, Justice Karim took over the proceedings.

“In case certain measures have to be taken regarding security etc in respect of Anti-Terrorism Courts across Punjab, these measures will only be put in place with the consultation and concurrence of the learned judge of that court and not otherwise,” said the order.

Justice Karim also said that the judges of ATC across Punjab are directed to download a call recording application and shall be bound to record all such calls which they receive and with regard to which the learned judges have apprehensions that they have been made to influence any judicial proceedings before them.

Moreover, the order stated, “A direction is issued to the judges of Anti-Terrorism Courts across Punjab to deal and decide the cases relating to May 9, 2023, expeditiously and on priority.”

The court also directed the 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.”

The court then adjourned the hearing till July 8.