Islamabad High Court Faces Seniority Row Amid Supreme Court Appointments
The controversy surrounding the Supreme Court appointments and the JCP's decision has sparked concerns about the integrity of the legal system, with many questioning the legitimacy of the process and the impact on the rule of law and democracy in Pakistan, as the judiciary faces criticism for its perceived alignment with the executive branch.
Pakistan's Supreme Court has faced criticism for its recent appointments, sparking concerns about the erosion of judicial independence, with the government accused of packing the court with aligned judges, threatening the rule of law and democracy.
The appointment of 7 new Supreme Court judges by Chief Justice Yahya Afridi has raised concerns among former senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar and former additional attorney general Waqar Rana, who believe that the appointments have compromised the institution's credibility. The Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) has nominated six high court judges for promotion to the Supreme Court, despite protests from lawyers and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party.
The JCP meeting, held on February 10, 2025, nominated judges from all high courts except the Lahore High Court, and also nominated Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb as the acting judge of the Supreme Court. The PTI has challenged the decision, calling it "unconstitutional" and stating that it has "no legitimacy." Lawyers staged protests in Islamabad, demanding the postponement of the JCP meeting and the cancellation of the 26th Amendment, which reconstituted the JCP to include more lawmakers.
The situation remains tense, with lawyers continuing to protest and the PTI vowing to challenge the decision, as the Islamabad High Court faces a seniority row related to the transfer of judges and the determination of their seniority, further complicating the judiciary's challenges in maintaining its independence and credibility.
