Islamabad (Web Desk): The Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) convened on Monday to consider the elevation of several high court judges to the Supreme Court (SC), amidst significant opposition and protest within the legal community.
Despite the boycott by the the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers and two senior judges of the top court, the commission proceeded with the approval of six new judges.
Notably, those approved for promotion include Chief Justice Balochistan High Court (BHC) Hashim Khan Kakar, Chief Justice Sindh High Court (SHC) Shafi Siddiqui, Chief Justice Islamabad High Court (IHC) Aamer Farooq.
The JCP, having been recently restructured under the provisions of the 26th Constitutional Amendment, is now comprised of 13 members.
These include the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP), four sitting judges of the SC, parliamentarians from both the treasury and opposition benches, and other legal professionals.
Despite the commission's authority, the decision to hold the meeting was met with substantial dissent.
A number of sitting judges, along with prominent legal figures, voiced their concerns through letters to the CJP, urging that the meeting be postponed.
Their reasoning was grounded in the pending appeals against the 26th Amendment and unresolved issues regarding the seniority list of judges in the IHC
The calls for delay were further endorsed by the All Pakistan Lawyers Action Committee (APLAC), a collective that represents legal professionals who have raised objections to the 26th Amendment.
APLAC, along with several former office-bearers of national bar associations, expressed their apprehension about the impact such appointments could have on the independence of the judiciary, urging that all pending matters be resolved before any promotions are made.
In the wake of these protests, the legal community witnessed a division of opinion, with some factions arguing that the promotion process be deferred until the constitutional matters are fully addressed.
Public demonstrations took place in Islamabad, with lawyers gathering in protest against the judicial appointments.
The protests resulted in disruptions to public transport services, including the suspension of metro bus services on several routes connecting Islamabad to Rawalpindi.
Due to protests, authorities took precautionary measures, sealing off the Red Zone area of the federal capital.