RAWALPINDI: The Pakistan Army on Sunday demanded Supreme Court of Pakistan initiate “process to ascertain the veracity of allegations levelled against state institutions” by the Islamabad High Court judge Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui.
“An honorable judge of Islamabad High Court of Pakistan has leveled serious allegations against state institutions including honorable judiciary and the premier state intelligence agency,” said a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations in a statement without naming the judge.
The statement said in order to safeguard the sanctity and credibility of the state institutions, honorable Supreme Court of Pakistan has been requested to ascertain the veracity of the allegations and take actions accordingly.
On the other hand, Supreme Court Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar has taken serious notice of a speech delivered by Islamabad High Court Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui Judge at Rawalpindi Bar Association alleging interference of intelligence agencies of the country in Judicial matters.
The Chief Justice has called for complete record of the speech from Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA).
The Chief Justice said that the judiciary is working independently and free from any pressure.
“I felt saddened to read the statement of an Islamabad judge. As the head of judiciary, I assure you that we are not under any sort of pressure,” the CJP observed.
He vowed to launch an investigation into the matter and bring the facts to light.
Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui had alleged Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) of manipulating the judicial procedures. He said that he is not involved in corruption and appealed the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) to conduct an open trial against him.
Justice Siddiqui said that Pakistan can be compared with India, Bangladesh or Sri Lanka instead of comparing with the United States or Europe. “India will be a bigger economic power by 2030 and we are going backward,” he said. NNI
