Peshawar:
The president of Pakistan Tehreek-E-insaf (PTI), the lawyer Gohar Ali Khan, called on the Supreme Court to take note of the suspension of the High Court of Islamabad (IHC), Tariq Jahangiri, describing this decision “unconstitutional and damaging for legal independence”.
Addressing the media of the High Court of Peshawar, Barrister Gohar said that the personal differences between the judges, which were once confined to the chambers and the letters, have now spread in open confrontations in the hearing rooms. “For us, each door has been closed. We have reached an impasse and the only option is to request justice from the courts. Any extra-constitutional step is unacceptable,” he said.
He recalled that during the mandate of former chief judge Iftikhar Chaudhry, the Supreme Court had established a precedent that no judge could be prohibited from working judicial, as this was equivalent to dismissal.
“The suspension of a judge is against the Constitution. Such actions erod the confidence of the public in the judiciary, which is already fragile,” he warned.
Lawyer Gohar criticized the growing perception that the judiciary is no longer independent. “If the judges are fighting with each other, how can the public rely on the courts for justice?” He questioned, urging the chief judge to ensure that the affairs awaiting the PTI are heard in accordance with the law.
The head of the PTI also accused the lower courts of having expressed unjust “verdicts against the legislators of his party, saying that the members had collectively received sentences totaling more than 100 years. “If the Supreme Court had watched more closely, such decisions would not have been possible,” he said.
He stressed that denying access to the founding president of PTI and his wife fueled public despair. “When the most popular leader in the country is imprisoned, he spreads despair and despair causes resentment. Resentment threatens governments, damages the economy and weakens the state,” he added.
Announcing a gathering of parties in Peshawar on September 27, Barrister Gohar said that all the provisions would be the responsibility of the provincial government. “People from across the country will meet to raise their voice peacefully for their rights,” he said.
