Justice Shahid Karim of the Lahore High Court has issued a five-point standard operating procedure (SOP) to prevent interference in the judiciary.

The SOP directs the Prime Minister’s Office, the Intelligence Bureau (IB), and all civil and military agencies to refrain from approaching any judge of the Supreme Court, High Court, or subordinate judiciary, or their staff, in the future.

Justice Karim’s decision stems from a suo motu notice he took regarding pressure exerted on an ATC judge in Sargodha. He converted the suo motu notice into a writ petition and issued a four-page interim written order.

The interim order states that the court has converted the suo motu notice into a writ petition and that it is imperative to issue guidelines in such matters to safeguard the independence of the judiciary.

The order further states that the IG Punjab should direct all police officers not to directly contact any judge of the Supreme Court, High Court, or subordinate judiciary regarding the merits of a case pending before their court.

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Failure to comply will result in contempt of court proceedings.

This landmark ruling by Justice Karim is a significant step towards ensuring the independence of the judiciary and protecting judges from undue influence.

The SOP provides clear guidelines for all government agencies and individuals, ensuring that the judiciary can function without interference.