SBC vice chairman decries ‘partial’ judicial appointments

Sindh Bar Council (SBC) Vice Chairman Kashif Hanif has expressed concern over recent ‘unconstitutional and politically-motivated’ transfer of judges to the Islamabad High Court (IHC) and termed these transfers a blatant attack on the rule of the law and independence of the judiciary.

Issuing a statement on the issue, the SBC vice chairman said that recent transfer of judges was a clear and glaring violation of the Article 200 of the Constitution undermining the integrity of judicial system and another firm step towards regulatory capture by the establishment.

He said that transfer of judges without due process and meaningful consultation set a dangerous precedent and it threatened the independence of the judiciary reflecting an alarming attempt to manipulate the judicial system for the vested interests of the establishment and the government.

He said that such irregular action constitute a fraud upon the Constitution raising serious question about the equitable, impartial, and independent administration of justice. The SBC vice chairman said that these transfers appeared to be motivated by the desire to position preferred judges in the IHC bypassing merit, seniority and established judicial norms.