Legal Battle Over Judges’ Seniority Begins
Five judges challenge their seniority issue in the Supreme Court
Islamabad-Five Islamabad High Court judges have taken their seniority dispute to the Supreme Court, filing a petition and engaging prominent lawyers Munir A. Malik and Barrister Salahuddin to represent them. Sources indicate this move follows the rejection of their earlier representation on the matter.
Former Chief Justice Aamer Farooq had earlier dismissed their plea.
The petitioners include Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, Justice Babar Sattar, Justice Riffat Imtiaz, and Justice Babar Sattar.
The petition names the federal government, transferred judges, and various high courts as respondents.
Additionally, a separate injunction request has been submitted alongside the main petition.
The petition contains 13 different pleas, including a request to suspend three judges, including Justice Sarfraz Dogar, from their duties.
The petitioners argue that the President’s powers should be subject to the approval of the Judicial Commission.
Furthermore, the petition challenges the formation of Islamabad High Court’s Administrative and Departmental Promotion Committees.
It also calls for the annulment of the notification regarding judges’ transfers and the rejection of the seniority representation by former chief justice Aamer Farooq.
The petition disputes the Judicial Commission’s process of reviewing the Islamabad High Court judges’ list.
It argues that Justice Sarfraz Dogar’s appointment as the senior puisne judge was contested in a representation that was dismissed.
Consequently, the petitioners have now invoked Article 184(3) of the Constitution to seek relief from the Supreme Court.
Additionally, the petition questions the powers of the President, asserting that under Article 200(1), the President does not have unlimited authority to transfer judges and that such transfers cannot occur without public interest justification.
