Transfer of judges has restored federal character of IHC, says SHCBA

By Our Correspondent
February 04, 2025
SHCBA President Mohammad Sarfaraz Ali Metlo gestures as speaks to someone in this image. — Facebook@SarfarazMetlo/File
SHCBA President Mohammad Sarfaraz Ali Metlo gestures as speaks to someone in this image. — Facebook@SarfarazMetlo/File 

The Sindh High Court Bar Association Karachi appreciated appointment by transfer of judges to the Islamabad High Court particularly from a smaller province by the president in exercise of power and procedure provided in the Article 200 of the Constitution that has existed from the commencing day.

SHCBA President Mohammad Sarfaraz Ali Metlo said in a statement that this move was a significant step towards restoring the federal character of the IHC, which was originally established to ensure equal representation from all provinces including smaller provinces like Sindh and Balochistan.

Metlo said that when the Islamabad High Court was initially constituted, it was designed to reflect the diversity of nation by including one judge from each province alongside a judge from Islamabad.

He said that this structure was intended to uphold the principles of federalism and ensure that voices of all regions, including smaller provinces were represented in the federal capital’s judiciary. He said however this federal character had been diluted leading to lack of proportional representation from provinces like Sindh and Balochistan.

The SHCBA president said that transfer of judges including that of Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro from Sindh was a welcome step towards reinstating the IHC’s original composition and character.

He said the Islmabad Bar Council and the legal fraternity should extend their full support and welcome judges from smaller provinces including Justice Soomro from Sindh High Court as any negative remarks or resistance to this move would not only undermine the principles of federalism but also hurt the sentiments of the people of Sindh including its legal community.

He said the SHCBA firmly believed that a federal character of the IHC was essential for maintaining the integrity and inclusivity of Pakistan’s judicial system and called upon all stakeholders to support this initiative and work together to strengthen the judiciary as a unifying force for the nation.