Islamabad bar bodies press for local lawyers in IHC appointments

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad Bar Council (IBC) has intensified its efforts to secure representation for lawyers from the federal capital in upcoming appointments to the Islamabad High Court (IHC), as the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) is expected to hold important meetings in the coming weeks on judicial appointments and transfers.

The JCP is likely to consider appointments in the provincial high courts as well as the IHC. The expected meetings have taken on added importance amid reports that the commission may also examine the transfer of judges between high courts along with fresh elevations.

Questions had arisen earlier this month over when the JCP meeting would be held after its secretary, Niaz Muhammad Khan, went on a month-long leave. However, sources said he resumed his duties a day earlier after cutting short his leave, removing a possible obstacle to convening the commission’s session.

With preparations for the JCP meetings under way, the IBC has stepped up lobbying for vacancies in the IHC to be filled by lawyers from Islamabad’s legal community. Sources said the council is pushing for the inclusion of practitioners registered with local bar associations, arguing that they are more familiar with the legal environment of the federal capital.

Several names are said to be under consideration for elevation to the IHC bench. They include former advocate general Ayyaz Shaukat, tax law specialist Usman G. Rashid Cheema, Umair Majeed Malik and Sultan Mazhar Sher Khan. Two serving district and sessions judges — Shahrukh Arjumand and Humayun Dilawar — are also among those being considered.

Meetings with senior judges

As part of its campaign, IBC members including Raja Aleem Khan Abbasi, Raja Rizwan Abbasi and Islamabad High Court Bar Association executive committee member Chaudhry Manzoor Ahmed Jajja met senior judicial figures this week.

On Monday, they met Federal Constitutional Court Chief Justice Aminuddin Khan. On Tuesday, they called on Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi. Sources said JCP member Zulfiqar Abbasi was also present during the meeting with Justice Aminuddin, but did not attend the meeting with the chief justice of Pakistan.

During their meeting with Justice Yahya Afridi, the IBC representatives urged him to give priority to candidates from Islamabad’s legal fraternity and to discourage the appointment of lawyers from outside the capital. They maintained that local practitioners were better placed to deal with the specific legal issues of the federal territory.

Local bar bodies raise concerns

The Islamabad District Bar Association has also raised similar concerns. In a statement, it asked the JCP to ensure that local lawyers are given due consideration in the forthcoming elevations.

The association used that term for appointments made from outside Islamabad and warned that such decisions could undermine the interests of the local bar.

A senior lawyer, speaking on condition of anonymity, said both the IBC and the Islamabad High Court Bar Association were expected to issue further statements reiterating their demand for local representation.

Sources also said IBC members are likely to meet IHC Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar to press for the nomination of local candidates. They are expected to ask him to forward only the names of Islamabad-based lawyers for consideration in the upcoming JCP meetings.