In a rare and bold move, six senior judges from Pakistan’s Islamabad High Court have publicly accused the country’s powerful intelligence agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), of interfering in judicial affairs. Their open letter details shocking instances of surveillance, coercion, and even the abduction and torture of family members, all allegedly aimed at influencing rulings in politically sensitive cases—especially those involving opposition leader Imran Khan. The judges have demanded an urgent investigation by Pakistan’s Supreme Judicial Council and called for a judicial convention to address what they describe as a systemic threat to judicial independence.
The allegations have intensified scrutiny of the military’s role in Pakistan’s justice system and sparked a national debate over the rule of law. Legal experts have praised the judges’ courage, calling their action a potential turning point in the judiciary’s resistance to executive overreach. With the country’s Chief Justice convening a full bench meeting, pressure is mounting on the judiciary to assert its independence. As political interference increasingly shapes court outcomes in Pakistan, this case underscores broader concerns about authoritarian encroachment on judicial systems worldwide.