Bar associations reject IHC judges’ transfer decision

LAHORE: The Lahore Bar Association and the Lahore High Court Bar Association on Wednesday voiced strong opposition to the transfer of three Islamabad High Court judges to provincial high courts and criticised recent constitutional amendments, saying the steps threatened judicial independence.

Speaking at a press conference, Lahore High Court Bar Association Secretary Qasim Ijaz Sammra condemned the transfers, saying they had been carried out without the consent of the judges concerned. He also alleged that the 26th and 27th constitutional amendments had weakened the independence of the judiciary.

"Lawyers will raise a strong voice against these measures and continue their struggle to safeguard judicial autonomy,"he said.

LHCBA President Babar Murtaza said the legal fraternity had been resisting such amendments for the past two years. He alleged that the basic structure of the Constitution had been changed and criticised the manner in which judicial transfers were handled.

He warned that arbitrary decisions on seniority could damage institutional integrity and announced that lawyers would stage a protest rally against the decisions.

Bar leaders reject amendments

Lahore Bar Association President Irfan Hayat Bajwa described the latest developments as the darkest day in Pakistan's judicial history and rejected the constitutional amendments. He said petitions challenging the amendments had still not been taken up for hearing.

Bajwa further claimed that even the chief justice of Pakistan had now realised that authority had been diminished.

The statements from the Lahore bar bodies came amid growing criticism from sections of the legal community over the transfer of Islamabad High Court judges and the broader constitutional changes linked to the judiciary.

At the press conference, the office-bearers maintained that the transfer of judges without their consent and the changes introduced through the constitutional amendments had raised serious concerns within the legal fraternity. They said lawyers would continue to oppose what they described as measures affecting the autonomy of the judiciary.

Murtaza said the legal community had consistently resisted these developments and reiterated concerns over the impact of transfer procedures and seniority-related decisions on the judicial system.

The bar representatives said they would continue their campaign against the measures and press ahead with protest action announced at the briefing.