IHC anti-terrorism courts: Justice Dogar replaces Justice Kayani

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) yet again witnessed administrative changes as newly transferred Justice Sarfraz Dogar replaced Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, as the new administrative judge for accountability and anti-terrorism courts.

The move comes after three new judges were transferred to IHC earlier this week. IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq issued the official orders. For other areas within IHC, Justice Azam Khan has replaced Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb as the administrative judge for District Courts West, while Justice Raja Inam Amin Minhas has been appointed as the administrative judge for Sessions Courts East. Justice Minhas has also been given charge of the special Narcotics Control Court.

Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan has been designated as the inspection judge for the Intellectual Property Tribunal.

Welcoming the transfer of judges, Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi addressed the hullabaloo on Monday and stressed that the move was constitutional and that the judges from other provinces have been moved to symbolise the importance of federation in Pakistan.

Despite strong opposition from high court judges, President Asif Ali Zardari approved the transfers on February 1. The names included Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar from the Lahore High Court (LHC), Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro from the Sindh High Court (SHC), and Justice Muhammad Asif from the Balochistan High Court (BHC). 

There was significant disruption at Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday as lawyers staged a strike in protest against the transfer of three judges from other high courts. The High Court Bar Association had called for a complete boycott of court proceedings, resulting in more than 80 percent of scheduled cases seeing no lawyer representation.