Judges transfer case: Justice Bilal says he wants to dismiss petition with penalty

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court Thursday adjourned until Friday hearing in identical pleas, challenging the transfer of judges from various high courts to the Islamabad High Court (IHC) as well as the issue of seniority of judges. A five-member constitutional bench of the apex court — headed by Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar — heard the identical petitions filed by six judges against the transfer of judges to the IHC. The other members of the bench included Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan, Justice Shahid Bilal Hassan, Justice Salahuddin Panhwar, and Justice Shakeel Ahmed. “My heart wants to dismiss this petition with a penalty,” Justice Bilal Hassan remarked while Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar observed that the petition had embarrassed even the High Court judges. “If such words were used about me, I would also feel ashamed,” Justice Mazhar added. The counsel, however, submitted that Shoaib Shaheen was a counsel in Imran Khan’s petition adding that he had filed a separate petition on behalf of another petitioner, Raja Muqsat Nawaz advocate and such words were not used in that petition. Meanwhile, after Idris Ashraf concluded his arguments, Faisal Siddiqui, counsel for Karachi Bar Association, commenced his arguments.