It is commonly believed that in Pakistan, the army and power are closely intertwined. This explains why elements of power can be observed within the army, and conversely, the influence of the army is evident in positions of power. Recently, the Shahbaz government has initiated efforts to curb the Army and ISI's meddling. Rana Sanaullah, the Advisor to the Prime Minister on Political and Public Affairs, has proposed establishing a mechanism to prevent institutions from encroaching on each other's domains.
His statement follows a letter from judges alleging intelligence agencies' interference in judicial affairs. Sanaullah remarked during a media appearance that the judges' letter serves as a catalyst to establish a system that safeguards against institutional interference.
This comment was made in light of a letter from Islamabad High Court judges, including Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kiani, Justice Tariq Mahmood Jahangiri, Justice Babar Sattar, Justice Sardar Ijaz Ishaq Khan, Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir, and Justice Saman Fafat Imtiaz, sent to the Supreme Judicial Council on March 26, requesting a judicial conference regarding alleged intelligence agencies' intrusion into judicial matters.
Following this, Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faiz Isa, in a meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on March 28 at the Supreme Court, emphasized a zero-tolerance policy towards executive interference in judicial functions. Consequently, the federal cabinet on March 30 sanctioned the formation of an inquiry commission to investigate allegations against Islamabad High Court judges, appointing former Chief Justice of Pakistan (retd) Tassaduq Hussain Jilani as its head.
However, Jilani declined the role, leading the apex court to take suo motu notice of the issue. Further more, Rana Sanaullah criticized the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for stalled talks dating back to 2014, highlighting the PTI founder Imran Khan's reluctance to engage with MPs as a key factor in the current deadlock.
Sanaullah also addressed PTI's stance on communication with the establishment, referring to the Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations' statement that MPs should resolve issues internally as engaging with the Army directly serves no purpose. Sanaullah urged PTI founders to reconsider their strategy, emphasizing the need to overcome the impasse for the benefit of all stakeholders.
