Justice Babar Sattar has opened a new Pandora’s box by writing a letter to Chief Justice Sarfaraz Dogar questioning the legitimacy and jurisdiction of the court in various cases related to human rights and the independence of judiciary.
A copy of the 4-page letter of Justice Babar Sattar of the Islamabad High Court has surfaced, copies of the judges’ letter to Chief Justice Sarfaraz Dogar have been sent to all judges and the registrar.
The contents of Justice Babar Sattar’s letter state that do the judges of the Islamabad High Court today believe that they are fulfilling their constitutional responsibility? Do the judges believe that citizens consider them the protectors of their fundamental rights? Did the Islamabad High Court try to make the district judiciary an independent institution?
The letter said that there is a lack of transparency in the preparation of rosters and fixing cases. “We tell the officers in our decisions every day that you are not a king, nor are your powers without limits and restrictions” he wrote.
The letter written to the Chief Justice said that while fixing cases, cases are being sent to transfer and additional judges, ignoring senior judges. While using administrative powers, shouldn’t the judges and the Chief Justice remember that they are not kings, but public officials.
Justice Babar Sattar said that your office refuses to issue cause lists in some cases, which is affecting the independence of the judiciary. We have also seen me being deprived of single benches by issuing rosters.
The letter further stated that senior judges were separated from the administrative committee in violation of rules, additional and transfer judges were included, you made it mandatory for judges to get NOC for going abroad as if judges were put on the ECL, it takes decades to build institutions, it does not take long to destroy them.
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