Lawyers announce strike against transfer of judges to Islamabad

ISLAMABAD: Islamabad lawyers have rejected the transfer of judges from other provinces to the capital and announced a strike on Monday (tomorrow). 

Addressing a joint press conference, office-bearers of the Islamabad Bar Council, the Islamabad High Court Bar Association and the District Bar Association said that the recent transfers of judges from other provinces aimed to divide the judiciary, and is based on mala fide intentions. They said that Islamabad lawyers will strongly oppose this move. 

Islamabad Bar Council Chairman Aleem Abbasi said that a nationwide convention will be held at the District Court in G-11 at 11am tomorrow.

“A strike will be observed, and no lawyer will appear in any court,” he said urging the lawyers across Pakistan to support their cause. 

Advocate Aleem Abbasi said that the Judicial Commission of Pakistan’s meeting has also been convened with ill intent. He demanded that all petitions against the 26th Constitutional Amendment be heard immediately. “We do not trust political parties or those in power. It is the lawyers who must fight against the 26th Constitutional Amendment,” he said. 

He said that after the 26th Constitutional Amendment, judicial appointments have started to be made on political affiliations. “All appointments in the Sindh High Court have been made based on political affiliations, and the same will happen in the Lahore High Court.” 

Islamabad High Court Bar President Association Riyasat Ali Azad said that their decision to strike and hold the convention was unanimous. “Why are judges from the Lahore and Balochistan high courts are being brought here?” 

He said that the Islamabad High Court’s only ‘crime’ is its commitment to judicial independence. “There is an attempt to take over the Islamabad High Court, and after the convention, a rally will also be held tomorrow.” 

Riyasat Ali Azad said that they would not accept any decisions made after the promotions of judges.

“Our children will continue to live here — we are not going to flee abroad. The lawyers’ movement is still ongoing, but some people in power are exploiting the situation for their own benefit,” he said.

Earlier, three judges from the Sindh, Balochistan, and Lahore high courts were transferred to the Islamabad High Court (IHC).

A notification regarding the transfer of these judges was issued by the Ministry of Law.

Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar from the Lahore High Court, Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro from the Sindh High Court and Justice Muhammad Asif from the Balochistan High Court have been transferred to the IHC.

On Saturday, Islamabad High Court judges wrote a letter to the president of Pakistan and Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Yahya Afridi, urging them not bring judges from other high courts nor they be appointed as the IHC chief justice.

According to sources, several judges, including Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, had signed the letter, saying that the Islamabad High Court chief justice should be appointed from among its three senior-most judges.

The letter further emphasized that meaningful consultation was essential before appointing judges from other high courts and that valid reasons must be provided for such transfers.

The IHC judges had highlighted that while IHC’s seniority structure should not be altered. The judges also wrote similar letters to the chief justices of the Lahore and Sindh High courts