Balochistan Bar Council Rejects Granting “Justice of Peace” Powers to Commissioners, Calls It Violation of Judiciary and Contempt of Court

**Quetta (Qudrat News):** The Balochistan Bar Council has strongly condemned the provincial government’s notification granting powers under Sections 22-A and 22-B of the CRPC to executive officers, including divisional commissioners and deputy commissioners, calling it a blatant interference in the judiciary.

In a joint statement, Vice Chairman Rahmatullah Barech, Executive Committee Chairman Rahib Khan Baledi, Advocate Amanullah Khan Kakr, and Qasim Ali Gazzi rejected the decision, warning that it undermines judicial authority and violates the principles upheld by Justice Qazi Faez Isa in the landmark “Kamran Malakhel vs Government of Balochistan” case, where similar transfers of judicial powers to the executive were declared null and void.

The council emphasized that assigning commissioners the role of “Justice of Peace” is not merely an administrative change but a direct handover of judicial authority to the executive, creating dual authority for the police and generating administrative chaos and constitutional conflict.

The statement further highlighted that Sections 22-A and 22-B were designed to provide citizens with a neutral judicial forum against police misconduct. Transferring these powers to commissioners weakens this citizen protection and allows the state to impose decisions at its discretion. The Bar Council vowed to challenge the notification through all possible legal channels.