Justice Shahid Karim issued 5-point SOPs to prevent interference in the judiciary
LAHORE
The Lahore High Court (LHC) has instructed the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) to issue directives to all civil and military agencies, including the Intelligence Bureau and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), prohibiting them from contacting or approaching “any judge” or their staff.
Justice Shahid Karim issued five SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) in a written order which surfaced on Saturday, in response to a complaint lodged by an anti-terrorism court (ATC) judge in Sargodha.
The judge alleged harassment after reportedly declining to meet officials from an intelligence agency.
Former LHC Chief Justice Malik Shahzad Ahmad Khan had taken notice of the judge’s complaint, filed through the registrar, and initiated proceedings. Justice Karim assumed jurisdiction over the case after Chief Justice Khan was appointed to the Supreme Court.
During a previous hearing, Justice Karim had observed that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif bore responsibility and accountability for the actions of intelligence agencies, which fell under his authority.
In a written order dated June 27, the judge noted that it was “imperative” to proceed on certain issues that “regularly come before this court” and regarding which “directions are necessary to be issued in order to protect the independence of the judiciary”.
“Instructions shall go out by the Prime Minister’s Office to all civil or military agencies including the Intelligence Bureau as well as Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) regarding strict directions not to approach or contact any judge whether of the superior judiciary or sub-ordinate judiciary or any member of their staff in future,” he ordered subsequently. Similar directions were also issued for the Punjab police.
The order further wrote “Likewise, instructions shall be issued by the Inspector General of Police, Punjab to all police officers […] not to contact directly any judge of superior judiciary or the sub-ordinate judiciary regarding the merits of any pending judicial proceedings before these courts.”
The judge emphasized that actions concerning the security of ATCs throughout Punjab would solely be implemented “with the consultation and agreement of the respected judge of that court and not otherwise”. He cautioned that the inspector general and police chief would be “held personally accountable” and face contempt proceedings if they disregarded the directive.
