ISLAMABAD – Islamabad High Court (IHC) Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui onWednesday criticised the alleged interference of the country’s intelligenceagencies in the affairs of the judiciary, media and the executive, warningthat such an intrusion may eventually lead to a “big loss”.

Justice Siddiqui, who is the senior puisne judge of the IHC, made theobservations while wrapping up a case concerning two missing brothers whowere allegedly disappeared by a spy agency.

The judge is currently facing trial in a reference on misconduct moved inthe Supreme Judicial Council on the complaint by a retired employee of theCapital Development Authority for alleged refurbishment of officialresidence beyond entitlement.

Justice Siddiqui also made headlines last year when he criticisedAgencies for their role as the “mediator” in the agreement that led to anend of the sit-in by religious groups at Islamabad’s Faizabad Interchangein November.

“Who is the army to adopt a mediator’s role?” the judge had questioned atthe time. “Where does the law assign this role to a major general?”

In the order sheet issued after today’s hearing, Justice Siddiqui not onlycensured Islamabad police for their failure to protect citizens fromenforced disappearances, but also criticised intelligence agencies,especially Inter-Services Intelligence, for allegedly exceeding theirsanctioned mandate.