ISLAMABAD (HRNW): Prominent journalist Sehrish Maan has raised serious allegations regarding the systematic targeting of the six Islamabad High Court (IHC) judges who previously authored a whistleblower letter addressed to the then-Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa. The letter, which aimed to expose interference in judicial affairs, has reportedly triggered a wave of retaliatory measures by the state.
According to the claims, instead of addressing the grievances highlighted by the judges, the authorities moved to penalize them. The dismissal of Justice Babar Sattar and the disqualification of Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani (referenced in the context of degree cases and disqualification attempts) are cited as part of this crackdown.
The 26th Amendment and the “Dogar Court” Era
Critics argue that the 26th Constitutional Amendment was specifically introduced to pave the way for “imported” or hand-picked judges, effectively neutralizing the independence of the remaining five judges. The current judicial atmosphere is being compared to the infamous “Dogar Court” era, where the IHC has allegedly been “defanged.”
Reports suggest a growing trend where only cases deemed “harmless” by the state are processed, while sensitive or critical files remain buried under bureaucratic layers.
Proposed Transfers to Remote Regions
The latest developments indicate that the state remains unsatisfied despite the perceived suspension of the judges’ powers. Information suggests a plan to transfer these five judges to remote and underdeveloped regions, such as the Chaman border, Cheechoki Mallian, and Chak 24.
The rationale behind these transfers, according to journalist Maan, is to ensure that any future judicial decisions made by these judges do not impact the power centers in Islamabad as they once did. The move is being viewed by legal observers as a strategy to isolate dissenting voices within the judiciary.
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