To protect their independence, attorneys insist on selecting the Chief Justice of Lahore High Court by seniority. Hamid Khan of the Professional Group and former President of the Supreme Court Bar, along with Manzoor Butt, Ishtiaq A., and the Vice President of the Supreme Court Bar, would request that they make the appointment according to a list. Khan, Shafqat Mahmood Chauhan, and six members representing the Pakistan Bar Council.
Highlights From The Press Conference Demand
During a press conference, Hamid Khan stated that if authorities do not adhere to this principle, we will challenge it and take to the streets in protest against such appointments. He referred to the Al-Jehad Trust case, which outlines the appointment procedure and should be followed here too. Ishtiaq A. Khan and Shafqat Mahmood Chauhan joined him, emphasizing that their demand was not about any specific judge but about upholding the principle of seniority in the Constitution. They stressed that politics should not interfere with the judiciary and advocated for promoting merit to improve the system while also advocating for removing judges who do not perform well. They also warned of complete resistance against any violation of the Al-Jehad Trust case.
Constitutional Adherence Required Demand
Pakistan Bar Council’s members also demanded Constitutional Farooqui clarify that this statement reflects our opinion about all judges or any one person only. It aims to keep the merit system alive. These appointments should reflect political will; otherwise, they would challenge it through every available forum Sardar Ali said the most senior judge must become Chief Justice Lahore High Court Asad Manzoor Butt insisted upon implementing Al-Jehad Trust case because this can save the Judicial System anarchy. At the same time, Chaudhry Taufeeq believed that only the implementation of Al-Jehad Trust could save the judicial system.
What This Means
Lawyers demand seniority-based appointments to maintain the judicial institution’s integrity and independence. The call to action by legal professionals reflects broader concerns over the politicization of judicial appointment processes and the judiciary’s commitment to operating based on merit and seniority.
