Sanaullah calls for mechanism to stop institutions' interference in each other's domain

• Sanaullah said talks in blind alley since 2014.
• Khan’s stance behind current situation, he says.
• Says ongoing situation not suitable for anyone.

Following the letters written by judges stating alleged interference by intelligence agencies in judicial work, Adviser to Prime Minister on Political and Public Affairs Rana Sanaullah said a 'mechanism' should be devised so that institutions do not interfere in each other’s domain.

"Writing a letter by the judges is enough (to prompt) the development of a mechanism so that institutions do not interfere in each other's domains," said Sanaullah during Geo News show "Naya Pakistan".

The PM’s adviser said this while referring to the Islamabad High Court (IHC) judges' letter that surfaced in March alleging interference by intelligence agencies in judicial matters.

The IHC judges — Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kiyani, Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, Justice Babar Sattar, Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan, Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir, and Justice Saman Rafat Imtiaz — had written the letter to the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC), urging the body to convene a judicial convention over the alleged interference of intelligence agencies in judicial affairs.

Following the emergence of the letter, on March 27, Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa chaired a full court meeting of the Supreme Court to deliberate on the matter that sought guidance from the SJC "with regard to the duty of a judge to report and respond to actions on the part of members of the executive, including operatives of intelligence agencies, that seek to interfere with the discharge of his/her official functions and qualify as intimidation".

The next day CJP Isa met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on the advice of the full court in the presence of the law minister, attorney general, senior puisne judge and the registrar of the apex court.

As a result of the meeting, the government decided to constitute a commission to probe into allegations levelled by the IHC judges.

The federal cabinet on March 30 approved the constitution of an inquiry commission over allegations of the IHC judges and appointed former chief justice of Pakistan Justice (retired) Tassaduq Hussain Jillani as its head.

However, the former CJP recused himself from the commission and as a result the Supreme Court took suo motu notice of the issue.

Talks in blind alley since 2014: Sana

Meanwhile, Sanaullah said talks with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) were in a blind alley since 2014. We kept waiting during the PTI government for negotiations, he said.

He said PTI founder Imran Khan’s stance of not talking to politicians was the main reason behind the current situation.

Referring to the PTI stance of holding talks with the establishment, he said the armed forces’ spokesperson, director general Inter Services Public Relations, had said that the politicians should talk with each other as there was no point of talking to the military.

The PM’s adviser said the PTI founder by adopting this sgtrategy was inflicting damage upon himself, his party and the country. Khan wanted to bring revolution through talk shows, he claimed.

“The ongoing situation is not suitable for anyone. The deadlock should end. There is no ego or reluctance on our part. It is from the other side,” he claimed. He said the other side called them names when his party spoke about holding negotiations.