PTI demands CJP, IHC CJ step down

ISLAMABAD: Rejecting afresh the proposed inquiry commission to investigate the IHC judges’ letter on the intelligence agencies’ alleged meddling in judicial matters, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Friday asked Chief Justice of Pakistan and Chief Justice of Islamabad High Court to step down for their ‘vacillation’ to protect judicial independence and fellow judges.

Addressing a press conference here along with the PTI senior legal team Shoaib Shaheen, Niazullah Niazi and Naeem Haider Panjutha, PTI Central Information Secretary Raoof Hasan said the IHC judges had clearly stated in their startling letter that they repeatedly raised the issue with Chief Justice Aamir Farooq and even apprised the Chief Justice of Pakistan about the intelligence agencies interference in their affairs and pressure exerted on them to get decisions of their choice.

He remarked, “What is happening in front of us is judicial surrender, as the judiciary itself is selling its independence to the executive. Apart from the IHC chief justice, chief justice of Pakistan and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had also been nominated in the letter; therefore, expecting justice from these persons was tantamount to the murder of justice, constitution and law”.

Raoof charged that the IHC chief justice was complicit in the crime; therefore, he remained silent and did not take any action in this regard.

All these unlawful activities took place when Shehbaz Sharif was the prime minister. Thus, it would be the murder of law and justice to expect a fair and transparent investigation because how the so-called planted prime minister could determine whether or not he was guilty, he said.

Shoaib Shaheen said the letter was a tragic chapter in the history of Pakistan. He noted the judges penned down as to how they were pressurized and their family members were harassed, cameras were installed in the bedrooms of judges and bugging devices were fixed inside their homes and even close relatives were kidnapped and given electric shocks.

Shoaib said PTI leaders including women, workers and youth, had been facing the same cruelty and barbarity for the last two years in the name of May 9. “Imran Khan repeatedly said if the real mastermind of May 9 incident was to be caught, then watch the CCTV footages of IHC, GHQ Rawalpindi and Corps Commander House. We have repeatedly requested for the establishment of a judicial commission but till today neither the CCTV footages could be presented nor the commission was constituted,” he added.

Shoaib asked if a retired judge would be able to provide justice to six judges. He demanded that 15 judges of the apex court should sit to conduct an independent and transparent inquiry into the letter saga, adding that PTI would no longer accept closed-room decisions.

He demanded that the minutes of the full court meetings should be released to find out which judge said what.

Niazullah Niazi said the judges’ letter had fully exposed that the entire system of the country was completely paralyzed.

Neither Chief Justice Aamir Farooq nor Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, he contended, took any action on the letter, adding that a law of jungle prevailed in the country.

The PTI leader demanded that the IHC chief justice and chief justice of Pakistan should tender resignations immediately because they had failed to protect the judicial independence.

Niazi announced that the PTI would kick-start an effective and rigorous movement for restoration of independence of judiciary, as they always stood by the legal fraternity in the fight of supremacy of constitution and upholding of rule of law in the country.

He alleged, “The CJP tied our hands and feet, and pushed us into the electoral arena but despite that people voted PTI and Imran Khan. We were deprived of our mandate in daylight polls robbery”.

Earlier, Naeem Haider Panjutha gave a detailed overview of the cases of Imran Khan and the ‘injustices’ committed by the IHC chief justice with the PTI founder chairman.

He said on the one hand, contempt of court case was filed against Imran Khan in the case of Judge Zaiba Chaudhry, on the other, judges were openly threatened, but no contempt of court action was taken against anyone hitherto.

Similarly, he recalled that no FIR was registered for the murderous attack on Imran Khan in Wazirabad and despite expressing no-trust in Judge Humayun Dilawar, the Toshakhana case was repeatedly referred to him, adding that the operation lasted 26 hours in Zaman Park to arrest Imran Khan but Justice Aamir Farooq remained silent.

Panjutha recalled that the chief justice remained tightlipped when police smashed the doors of PTI Founding chairman’s home to detain him on August 5 in Toshakhana case and subsequently taken him to Attock Jail.

He alleged that Qazi Faez Isa had not provided a level playing field to the PTI despite the request while court-convicted Nawaz Sharif was declared eligible.

Panjutha stated that the JCP snatched the electoral symbol of bat and reserved seats from the PTI, adding that no action was taken against Sikandar Sultan Raja for violating the constitution by not holding elections within the stipulated 90 days.

Meanwhile, the PTI Core Committee has hammered out a multi-pronged strategy to deal with the judges’ letter issue, ensure independence of judiciary and rule of law in the country.

Giving a briefing about the decisions taken in the PTI Core Committee, PTI Central Information Secretary Raoof Hasan said that the forum strongly rejected an inquiry commission tasked with probing the judges’ letter and demanded a commission comprising sitting judges to conduct open and transparent investigation into the matter.

He said a judicial conference should also be summoned and all judges, including the six who faced coercion and intimidation, should be invited and they should be listened to.

Raoof made it clear that the country could not go forward and make progress until the institutional interference was halted.