Balochistan Bar Council Condemns Blocking of Justice Ayub Tarin’s Confirmation, Announces Province-Wide Judicial Strike

Quetta: The Balochistan Bar Council has strongly criticized the recent decision of the Judicial Commission to halt the confirmation of Justice Ayub Tarin, calling the move biased and discriminatory.

In a joint statement, Vice Chairman Jarin Dashti, Executive Committee Chairman Ayaz Khan Mandokhel, and members Mohammad Afzal Harifal, Nadir Ali Chhalgari, Najeebullah Khan Kakr, and Rahib Khan Baleedi expressed deep concern over the decision, highlighting that the judge’s confirmation was blocked solely because his brother is affiliated with the Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party, which they described as clear favoritism and prejudice.

The Bar Council emphasized that Justice Ayub Tarin is widely respected for his honesty, impartiality, professional competence, and judicial dignity, and that no allegations of misconduct or incompetence exist against him. They stated that targeting a highly qualified judge based on a family member’s political affiliation is not only unconstitutional but also an attack on the independence of the judiciary.

The council criticized the decision as promoting an unfair notion of “collective responsibility” that has no place in Pakistan’s constitutional framework and warned that such actions severely undermine public trust in the judiciary.

The Balochistan Bar Council announced that it will defend judicial independence and dignity at all levels and demanded an immediate review of the Judicial Commission’s decision. In protest, the council has declared a province-wide judicial strike on January 14, 2026.