Islamabad High Court Judges Urge Chief Justice of Pakistan to Avoid External Appointments

Judges of the Islamabad High Court have sent a letter to the Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Yahya Afridi, expressing their concern about the potential appointment of judges from other high courts to the Islamabad High Court, including the position of Chief Justice. The letter urges that the Chief Justice of the Islamabad High Court be selected from among the three senior judges currently serving in the court.

The judges who signed the letter include Justice Mian Gul Hassan Aurangzeb, Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, Justice Arbab Mohammad Tahir, Justice Sardar Ijaz Ishaq Khan, and Justice Saman Rafat Imtiaz.

In the letter, the judges stated that reports in the media and from bar associations suggested that a judge from the Lahore High Court may be transferred to the Islamabad High Court, followed by consideration for the Chief Justice role. Additionally, there are speculations that a judge from the Sindh High Court might also be proposed for transfer to Islamabad.

The judges voiced concerns that such developments raise serious questions regarding the independence and functioning of the judiciary, stating that appointments to the position of Chief Justice should be made based on the internal systems and principles of the court, rather than external pressure or transfers. They argued that the process of transferring judges in this manner contradicts the core principles of judicial independence.

The letter emphasized that the judges hope the matter will be handled in a principled and transparent manner to maintain the judiciary’s autonomy and the public’s trust. The judges also requested the Chief Justice to review the issue seriously and take appropriate actions, including raising it at higher judicial forums for an open and transparent discussion to ensure the preservation of judicial freedom.

It was also noted that copies of the letter were sent to the President of Pakistan, as well as to the Chief Justices of the Sindh and Lahore High Courts.