SHC judge’s proposed elevation to SC: PBC again announces countrywide strike for tomorrow

ISLAMABAD: The legal fraternity will again observe a complete strike on July 28 (tomorrow) across the country in view of reconsideration of elevation of a judge of the Sindh High Court to the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

The Pakistan Bar Council (PBC), the apex body of the lawyer community, announced complete strike at all courts throughout the country on July 28, 2021 as a mark of protest against the proposed elevation of a junior Judge by ignoring four senior judges of the same high court as well as the principle of seniority, enshrined in various landmark judgments of the Supreme Court.

The announcement was made during an emergency meeting of the PBC executive committee, held here on Monday at the Supreme Court. The meeting was presided over by Fahim Wali Khan, chairman, and attended by members of the committee.

The meeting was convened to discuss the hurriedly scheduled meeting of the Judicial Commission of Pakistan, being held on July 28 in connection with re-consideration of elevation of Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar of the SHC as an SC judge.

Earlier, on July 13, the Judicial Commission of Pakistan had recommended the elevation of Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhel, chief justice Balochistan High Court, as an SC judge, but had deferred the elevation of Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar of the SHC due to the serious reservations, expressed by the legal fraternity.

The executive committee had also taken strong exception to the remarks, made by Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry, wherein he had termed the principle of seniority ridiculous and foolish. The PBC executive committee termed his remarks highly condemnable.

The committee also condemned the incidents of violation of the code of conduct of election and firing on contesting candidates and workers/ activists of political parties during polling process in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).

The committee said the Election Commission of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) was duty bound to ensure action against the code of conduct violations. “It is crystal clear that the people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) were not allowed to choose their real representatives,” the committee added.