If it’s not broken…

I have no education or training in law, but strongly believe that the proposed changes in the appointment of the chief justice will be a step in the wrong direction. They will not improve the performance of the judiciary at all. Besides potentially politicizing the bench and undermining the independence of the judiciary, the proposed changes might also promote sycophancy by juniors and the selection of the wrong people.

It would also be possible for a lame duck government to appoint a chief justice that creates problems for their successors. Former prime ministers ZA Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif suffered gravely at the hands of army chiefs of their choice, selected from among the ranks of relatively junior officers. This can happen with regard to the courts also. It is better not to disturb a system that is working satisfactorily.

Abdul Majeed

Islamabad