Justice Mansoor Ali Shah has written a new letter to Supreme Court Chief Justice Yahya Afridi, 24NewsHD TV reported on Friday.
In the latest letter, Justice Shah has expressed his reservations about the way the court affairs are being run. In his letter to the chief justice of Pakistan, Justice Shah raised the following questions:
Why is the Practice and Procedure Committee meeting not being convened? Why was the amendment to the 1980 Rules approved without a full court meeting? How was the new policy of issuing notices of disagreement made? Is the independence of judges being suppressed or is it being given? Why weren’t the 26th Constitutional Amendment petitions filed in the full court? Why was the new order issued regarding the leave of judges? Are you giving independence to judges or turning this court into a regimental force?
Justice Shah expressed the hope that these questions would be answered at the full court meeting on September 8.
Justice Shah wrote, “Mr. Chief Justice, I am writing a letter as the most senior judge after you. I have written several letters to you but have not received any written or verbal response from you. Your public response will give confidence to the judges and the public. Your response will assure that your reforms are transparent and in accordance with the Constitution. Do not think that this is a letter from a personally affected or aggrieved person. I have disposed of the highest number of 3,956 cases during your tenure. I have written 35 reported decisions during your tenure. Not a single formal meeting of the Practice and Procedure Committee has been held since October 2024. Benches are being formed without consultation. I am writing a letter to you as a responsible person."
Justice Shah said that benches were being formed and cause list was being issued unilaterally. He said that judges’ rosters were being sent for signatures without consultation.
“Why are senior judges being given two-member benches while junior judges are being given three-member benches? Why are cases of national importance not being assigned to senior judges? Senior judges are being ignored [as part of efforts to control them.”