Former CJP Tassaduq Hussain Jillani to ‘head’ probe commission into six IHC judges’ allegations
ISLAMABAD, March 30 (SABAH): The federal cabinet on Saturday “approved” constitution of an inquiry commission over allegations of six Islamabad High Court (IHC) judges and appointed former chief justice of Pakistan Justice (retd) Tassaduq Hussain Jillani as its head.
The terms of reference (TORs) for the commission will be prepared by Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar and Attorney General of Pakistan Mansoor Usman Awan. The commission will submit its report in 60 days after completing the inquiry into the allegations.
According to media reports, the one-member commission would hold inquiry into the allegations leveled by the judges in a letter to the Chief Justice of Pakistan justice Qazi Faez Isa.
The IHC judges — Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, Justice Babar Sattar, Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan, Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir, and Justice Saman Fafat Imtiaz — had on March 26 sent a letter to the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC), urging it to convene a judicial convention over the alleged interference of intelligence agencies in judicial affairs.
In response to the letter, Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa had on March 28 said that meddling by the executive in the affairs and “judicial workings of Judges will not be tolerated” come what may.
He had said this during a meeting with Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif at the Supreme Court in Islamabad. The chief justice and PM had agreed in the meeting to form an inquiry commission.
A five-point agenda of the federal cabinet meeting, presided by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, was issued which included discussion of the said letter and approval for setting up of an investigation commission on the allegations leveled in the letter.
The cabinet meeting was held on Zoom as most of the ministers participated online.
While talking to a private TV channel, Justice (retd) Tassaduq Hussain Jillani expressed his willingness to head the commission. The cabinet session was held with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in chair.