Attempts on to defame judiciary

Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar has said attempts are being made to defame the judiciary and any harm caused to the institution can jeopardise the country's stability.

The CJP made these remarks at a book launch in Lahore on Monday just hours after seeking comments from the Islamabad High Court chief justice about the veracity of the allegations levelled by Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui, a senior judge of the IHC, against the "interference by intelligence agencies in judicial matters".

Earlier, CJP Nisar asked IHC Chief Justice Mohammad Anwar Kasi to obtain material/evidence from Justice Siddiqui to substantiate the allegations he had levelled in his speech at the Rawalpindi Bar Association and to comment on the veracity of those charges.

In his speech, Justice Siddiqui had alleged that the IHC chief justice had been approached by officials of intelligence agencies to convey a message that they did not want release of former premier Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz before the general elections. In response, Justice Siddiqui alleged, the IHC chief justice had assured them that the bench would be constituted as per their convenience.