Judiciary being used as tool for political gains, claims PTI in meeting with CJP

• PTI takes up human rights issue with CJP Yahya Afridi.
• Complains of misuse of police in Punjab against them.
• Also raises issue of alleged abduction of its lawmakers.

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has complained to Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi that the judiciary is being used as a tool for political gains and being made a mockery of.

"The entire justice system has been made a joke. We [told] the CJP that the judiciary was being used as a tool [politically]," remarked PTI Secretary-General Salman Akram Raja while speaking at a presser following the meeting with the CJP.

The former ruling party's press conference comes against the backdrop of the chief justice's meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to share the agenda of the upcoming National Judicial Policymaking Committee (NJPMC) meeting. 

The premier, during the Wednesday meeting, was accompanied by Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, Economic Affairs Minister Ahad Cheema and Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Usman Awan. SC Registrar Muhammad Salim Khan and Secretary Law and Justice Commission Tanzeela Sabahat were also present on the occasion.

During the huddle, the top judge had assured taking opposition parties’ input over the judicial reforms — part of the CJP's overall reform agenda intending reduction in the pendency and providing speedy justice.

CJP Yahya, as per a press release issued by the Supreme Court (SC), has undertaken transformative changes to modernise the judiciary to uphold fairness, transparency, and accessibility to meet standards for judicial excellence and ensure that the justice system remains citizen-centric and responsive to the litigants needs.

However, the meeting apparently didn't sit well with the former ruling party whose Senator Barrister Ali Zafar urged the CJP to stay out of politics.

"The CJP should not make such meetings a routine [practice] as it gives the impression of politics," Senator Zafar said while speaking on Geo News' programme Capital Talk'.

Addressing the party's ongoing legal woes, with several of its leaders including founder Imran Khan behind bars, Raja said that the party today informed CJP Yahya of their cases not being heard.

"[We] told the CJP that human rights had practically ceased to exist in the country," the lawyer said.

Noting that the party also pointed out the wrongful manner in which the 26th Constitutional Amendment was bulldozed through both houses of the parliament, Raja said political struggle is the only solution when matters are not duly addressed in the courts.

'State terrorism'

Addressing the media, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar said the party complained to the CJP about the alleged abduction of its lawmakers.

Noting that the top judge assured them steps would be taken to address the issues faced by the party, Gohar further remarked that they also informed the chief justice that the orders issued by the court were not duly respected — due to the lack of implementation by authorities.

Additionally, the party also took up the issue of the plethora of cases faced by its founder Khan, and underscored the abrupt change in the timings of the hearings as well as scheduled meetings with the former prime minister.

Babar Awan pointed out the precedence of open trials instead of hearings inside the jail premises, while Omar Ayub said that the party's delegation also raised the issue of "state terrorism" in Punjab with police being misused against them in the province.

The PTI leaders, added the opposition leader, also took up the issue of Khan's letters addressed to the CJP as well as alleged fake first information reports (FIRs) faced by their lawyers.

The letter concerned, referred to the PTI founder's communique addressed to the top judge earlier this month wherein he underscored the party's longstanding demand for an investigation into the May 9, 2023, riots as well as the November 2024 protests.

In a statement released later in the day, the apex court said that Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Omar Ayub " highlighted various issues faced by the incarcerated PTI leader" and other party leaders and workers.

Ayub complained to the chief justice that cases involving opposition leaders are fixed at different locations at the same to "deliberately" so that attending all hearings "becomes impossible". The PTI leader, according to the statement, further said that the lawyers defending the cases of the party leadership and workers are being harassed, while "jail authorities are not complying with the orders of the courts".

During the meeting Ayub also said that the economic stability of the country is connected to the rule of the law and "economic recovery is only possible if the judiciary asserts itself and the executive is made accountable"

The SC statement further added that the PTI delegation recognised the fact the there is a need for reformation in the judiciary. Barrister Ali Zafar requested that the opposition party needs time to respond to the policy proposals shared by the Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan.

"They have provided valuable suggestions for improving the criminal justice system and civil dispensation. Additionally, they have indicated that further recommendations will be shared in due course," said the statement from the apex court.

At the start of the meeting, the CJP had informed the participants that the premier was "very positive and assured full support to the policy formulation and implementation process".