October 22, 2022

PRESS RELEASE

Mr. Hafeez-ur-Rehman Chaudhry, Vice-Chairman, Pakistan Bar Council, Mr. Muhammad Ahsan Bhoon, President, Supreme Court Bar Association and others Members of the Pakistan Bar Council, are extremely pleased to hear about the proposal of name of Islamabad High Court Chief Justice, Mr. Justice Athar Minallah for his elevation to the Supreme Court, however, they have expressed their serious concerns and disapproved the nominations of three junior Judges from the Lahore High Court and the Sindh High Court for their elevation to the Supreme Court, in a meeting of Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) going to be held on Monday, to consider the four nominees.

They said that in last meeting of Judicial Commission of Pakistan consensus could not be evolved and even some Members voted against such nominations of Junior Judges of the High Courts for their elevation to the Supreme Court. They further emphasized that such nominations would demoralize other Judges of the High Courts and would adversely affect their judicial work. This very fact is predominantly against the principle of seniority as laid down in Judges Case. They said that it is consistent stance of the legal fraternity that the Judicial Commission should follow the principle of seniority and the practice & desire to make a pick and choose should be stopped for elevation to the Supreme Court. They further said, if it is violated again the legal fraternity will resist it with full force and zeal.

ACTING SECRETARY