On Tuesday, Chief Justice Yahya Afridi announced that serious concerns raised in a letter from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan had prompted him to refer the matter to the Constitutional Bench of the Supreme Court for review.

Speaking to the media following a visit from an International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation, Chief Justice Afridi explained that he had sought input from both the government and the opposition before organizing a meeting of the National Judicial Policy Making Committee (NJPMC). He confirmed receiving the letter from PTI founder Imran Khan, which pertains to Clause 3 of Article 184 of the Constitution. “The matter has been forwarded to the Constitutional Bench Judges Committee for review,” he said, emphasizing that the issue should be addressed by the bench under Article 184(3).

The Chief Justice also shared that he had recently received numerous letters, including one from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. He acknowledged ongoing differences within the judiciary, describing them as long-standing issues that would take time to resolve. “I have urged judges to allow the system to function smoothly and not to obstruct it,” he remarked. “Pakistan belongs to all of us.”

Addressing concerns about seniority, Chief Justice Afridi explained that the issue was raised during a Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) meeting. He clarified that seniority was tied to judicial power and that if the matter came before the Supreme Court, he would recuse himself from the bench. He also emphasized the importance of separating judges’ transfers from seniority, as transfers are constitutionally mandated.

Chief Justice Afridi also explained his decision to elevate Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb from the Islamabad High Court (IHC) to the Supreme Court. He noted that certain judges who previously handled corporate cases were no longer doing so, and he was in favor of Justice Aurangzeb’s elevation to the top court.

Regarding judicial reforms, Chief Justice Afridi shared that suggestions had been sought from both Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and opposition leader before the NJPMC meeting. He also updated the IMF delegation on the judicial reform agenda, including matters related to compliance with agreements and property rights. “We are making progress on these reforms,” he assured, adding that it was not his responsibility to provide all the details.

The IMF delegation, led by Joel Turkewitz, held a meeting with Chief Justice Afridi, where key constitutional developments were discussed. The delegation expressed interest in the ongoing judicial reforms, including judicial accountability and the restructuring of the JCP. The Chief Justice highlighted the importance of integrating the judiciary and the parliamentary committee to ensure a more transparent judicial selection process.

In the meeting, discussions also focused on mechanisms for addressing complaints against judges, with the Chief Justice emphasizing the need for a strong and fair accountability process to maintain judicial integrity. The IMF delegation expressed appreciation for the judiciary’s role in upholding legal and institutional stability and supported efforts to strengthen governance and accountability.

Meanwhile, PTI announced its intention to reach out to the IMF delegation. Lawyer Faisal Chaudhry confirmed that PTI founder Imran Khan had given permission for National Assembly Opposition Leader Omar Ayub and PTI’s JCP members to meet with the IMF delegation.