The PTI’s Core Committee “completely rejected” on Thursday the government’s decision to form a retired judge-led inquiry commission to investigate the alleged intelligence agencies and executive interference in the judiciary.

In a statement, the party expressed concerns over the meeting of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa on the “most sensitive matter” related to the judiciary and the legal interest.

On Monday, six out of eight IHC judges wrote a letter addressed to the Supreme Judicial Council. In a 12-page letter, they requested a judicial convention be called to consider the matter of “interference of intelligence operatives with judicial functions and/or intimidation of judges in a manner that undermines the independence of the judiciary.”

Two days later after the letter surfaced in the media, Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar told a press conference that the notification on the formation of the inquiry commission would be issued within two or four days after deciding its terms of reference at a cabinet meeting.

The PTI, which now has a large number of lawyers, demanded the matter be placed before the Supreme Court’s larger bench and an open hearing be conducted.

“The letter of the judges of the Islamabad High Court is an indictment against the agencies of the federal government,” it said and described the retired judge-led commission as a “joke” with the independent investigation.

The party demanded a judicial conference on the IHC judges’ letter and all kinds of judges should be given the opportunity to present facts before the people.