ISLAMABAD: A day after the federal Government formed an inquiry committee led by a former high ranking judge to investigate alleged interference in legal matters, more than 300 lawyers called on the Supreme Court to take note of the matter pursuant to Article 184(3).

The IHC judges wrote a letter on Tuesday to the Supreme Judicial Council, urging them to convene a convention to address the alleged interference by intelligence agencies in the affairs of the judiciary.

According to an official statement, the Chief Justice of Pakistan, Qazi Faez Isa, held a meeting on Thursday with Prime Minister Shehbaz Shariff and decided to form an inquiry committee headed by a retired Judge of “impeccable Integrity” to investigate the matter.

The letter was sent a day after Tassaduq Hussain Jillani, former Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP), approved the formation of an inquiry committee to investigate allegations of interference by intelligence agencies with court matters.

The lawyers issued a statement today saying that “we endorse the resolutions adopted by the Islamabad High Court Bar Association and the Islamabad Bar Association as well as the Sindh High Court Bar Association and the Pakistan Bar Council. We also commend the courage of the six judges of the Islamabad High Court and demand the appropriate actions to maintain such principles.”

Signatures on the joint statement include those of Salman Akram Raja and Imaan Mahari, Abdul Moiz Jaferri as well as Zainab Jajua’s son, Zainab.

The statement pointed out that former IHC Judge Shaukat Siddiqui raised similar accusations and was consequently unceremoniously dismissed from office without following due procedure.

The allegations made by the above-mentioned must also be proved or disproven by an impartial investigation into the matter, as requested by the said.

The letter also called on the Pakistan Bar Council and all bar associations in Pakistan to convene an urgent convention of lawyers to determine a collective action plan to strengthen the independence the judiciary.

The statement continued, “We also call on the Supreme Court of Pakistan under Article 184(3) of Constitution to take cognisance of this matter as it relates eminently to public interest and the enforcement of basic rights.”

Lawyers stressed that this matter must be handled transparently in public, as the confidence of the public in the independence and impartiality of the judiciary is what needs to be restored.

The joint statement urged the Supreme Court to form a bench of all the available judges in order to hear the case and broadcast the proceedings live to the public.