Describes recent developments as ‘the darkest day in Pakistan’s judicial history’
LAHORE:
The Lahore Bar Association (LBA) and the Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) have strongly criticized the transfer of three judges of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) to provincial high courts as well as the constitutional amendments, terming them a threat to judicial independence.
Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, LHCBA Secretary Qasim Ijaz Sammra condemned the transfers made without the consent of judges and alleged that the 26th and 27th constitutional amendments had undermined the independence of the judiciary.
“Lawyers will raise a strong voice against these measures and continue their fight to safeguard judicial autonomy,” he said.
LHCBA President Babar Murtaza said the legal community had opposed such amendments for the past two years, alleging that the basic structure of the Constitution had been changed.
He criticized the judicial transfer process and warned that arbitrary decisions regarding seniority could undermine institutional integrity. He also announced that lawyers would hold a protest rally against the decisions.
LBA Chairman Irfan Hayat Bajwa called the recent developments “the darkest day in Pakistan’s judicial history”, categorically rejecting the constitutional amendments.
He claimed that the petitions filed against the amendments were yet to be heard and even the Chief Justice of Pakistan had now realized a loss of authority.
