Daily Times

LAHORE: Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Saqib Nisar on Monday said that efforts were being made to malign judiciary.

While addressing a ceremony here, CJP Nisar said the country would be weakened if the judiciary is weakened.

Earlier in the day, Justice Nisar heard a petition seeking a suo motu notice over Islamabad High Court (IHC) Justice Shaukat Siddiqui’s speech alleging that state institutions were meddling in judicial affairs.

The top judge had already taken notice of Siddiqui’s speech and sought record from the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA).

“Justice Siddiqui will be dealt according to the law,” CJP Nisar remarked during the hearing.

The chief justice also read his oath in the court room and assured the petitioner that nothing is going against the country adding “no harm will come to the country as long as judiciary is strong”.

“I will not take the suo motu notice, as notice has already been taken over this issue,” Justice Nisar said while mentioning the petitioner.

The petitioner, in his petition, alleged Justice Siddiqui of ‘violating his oath after passing statements against a state institution’ and termed his speech as ‘tantamount to betrayal of the country’.

On Saturday, Siddiqui had accused the country’s premier spy agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), of interfering in the legal cases.

Army had called for probe into the judge’s claim against the institution.

The IHC judge has requested the chief justice to constitute a judicial commission to probe the former’s allegations against the national institutions.

Justice Siddiqui is already being investigated for alleged misconduct relating to the allocation and refurbishment of his official residence. He has denied the charges.