'Violation' of seniority principle: PBC, SCBA say will protest outside SC

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) and the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) will protest on September 9 outside the Supreme Court building against violation of seniority principle in elevation of judges to the apex court.

The Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) will hold its meeting on September 9 to consider the elevation of LHC judge Justice Ayesha Malik to the Supreme Court.

She currently ranks fourth on the LHC judges' seniority list.

The junior judge of the Sindh High Court, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, has already been appointed as the SC judge.

A joint meeting of representatives of the PBC, SCBA, Islamabad Bar Council, and local High Court Bar Associations, was held in the Council office, here on Monday.

They requested the legal fraternity to participate in the Convention to register their protest outside the Supreme Court building, Islamabad, regarding violation of seniority principle in respect of elevation of judge to the Supreme Court.

The Committee also condemned the passage of the bill from the National Assembly, regarding amendments in the Legal Practitioners and Bar Councils Act, 1973, by inserting Section 5D, in the ibid Act, which is against the basic structure of the Constitution and gross violation of the parliamentary norms and democratic principles.

The Committee further resolved to challenge this gruesome amendment by resorting to all lawful means available. The meeting discussed and considered the arrangements of "All Pakistan Lawyers Convention", being held on 9th September, 2021. The invitation letters have already been issued to lawyers' representatives, for participation and attending the said convention.

This convention is being organised, as per resolution of the Karachi meeting to hold convention at Islamabad on 09-09-2021, on the date of the meeting of the JCP, when it would consider Justice Ayesha Malik's name, which is at number four in the list of seniority of judges of the Lahore High Court for elevation to the Supreme Court.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2021