Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi on Monday welcomed the transfer of judges to the Islamabad High Court amid opposition from the legal fraternity, terming the move a “fair chance” for judges from different provinces.
The Islamabad Bar Council, Islamabad High Court Bar Association, and Islamabad District Bar Association, in a joint meeting yesterday, announced a strike in the district courts and the IHC today to protest what they called “unconstitutional measures” undermining the judiciary and legal profession.
On Saturday, President Asif Ali Zardari approved the transfer of a Lahore High Court (LHC) judge, Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar, along with two others, to the IHC despite opposition from five IHC judges. They warned in a letter to top judges that his elevation as IHC chief justice would “violate constitutional procedures and judicial norms”.
During the oath-taking ceremony of the Press Association of the Supreme Court (PAS) today, CJP Afridi — while welcoming the transfer of judges — said that the IHC was not part of any region rather it belonged to the entire country.
“Judges from other provinces should also get a fair chance,” CJP Afridi said.
Traditionally, the senior puisne judge of a high court is appointed as the chief justice. Still, the JCP last year introduced new rules to bypass the seniority criterion in light of the 26th Amendment. The commission proposed that the chief justice of a high court could be appointed from among the panel of five senior-most judges.
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