Chief Justice Dr. Syed Refaat Ahmed warned that the absence of meaningful and sustainable judicial independence threatens the establishment of rule of law and democracy.

Speaking at a memorial for Syed Ishtiaq Ahmed on July 17, he reaffirmed the importance of the Masdar Hossain case, which advocated for judicial separation. He raised concerns about Articles 109, 116, and 116(a) of the Constitution, warning against dual authority. He also pointed out that political interference and bureaucratic complexities remain major obstacles to judicial reform—stressing that real change depends on political will.