IHC judges’ letter: SC justice recuses himself from suo motu bench

ISLAMABAD: Supreme Court (SC) Justice Yahya Afridi has stepped down from his role in the ongoing suo motu case taken after Islamabad High Court (IHC) judges wrote a letter to SC expressing concerns about interference in judicial matters.

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Justice Afridi, a member of the seven-judge panel overseeing the case, announced his recusal in a written statement accompanying the initial hearing’s order. He cited the need to address the issues highlighted in the IHC judges’ letter in line with the Supreme Judicial Council’s (SJC) standards of conduct.

The seven-member panel, chaired by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, includes Justices Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, Jamal Khan Mandokhel, Athar Minallah, Musarrat Hilali, Naeem Akhtar Afghan, and Justice Afridi.

During the first hearing on April 3, Chief Justice Isa emphasised the Supreme Court’s firm stance against any meddling in judicial matters, affirming that the concerns raised by the IHC judges were being taken seriously.

Justice Yahya Afridi, in his statement, acknowledged the court’s genuine intentions in initiating the suo motu action but expressed concerns about potential repercussions on the autonomy of high courts and their chief justices.

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In a separate note, Justice Athar Minallah expressed reservations about certain aspects of the written order, highlighting the possibility of political interference in cases and praising the IHC judges for their whistleblowing efforts. He emphasised the importance of judges being able to voice concerns without fear of reprisal, reaffirming their commitment to upholding the Constitution.