Sindh lawyers on strike to protest SHC judges’ elevation to SC

The Sindh Bar Council, Sindh High Court Bar Association and Karachi Bar Association held a strike in the province on Tuesday protesting against the temporary appointment of Sindh High Court Chief Justice Ahmed Ali Shaikh as the ad hoc judge of the Supreme Court and elevation of a junior judge of the SHC to the Supreme Court, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Reportedly, the SBC, SHCBA and KBA boycotted the courts across the province. The Karachi Bar completely stayed away from the court proceedings. It also called upon the lawyers not to appear before the courts today.

The Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Gulzar Ahmad is meeting later today for the appointment of SHC Chief Justice Ahmed Ali Shaikh as ad hoc judge of the apex court and elevation of junior SHC judge as SC judge.

However, SHC Chief Justice Sheikh in a letter apologized to the JCP for declining to become an ad hoc judge of the apex court.

He said that he was ready to join the Supreme Court of Pakistan on a permanent basis but he refused his elevation to the apex court on ad hoc basis.

Despite SHC Chief Justice Sheikh’s refusal to become SC ad hoc judge and a strike call by the SBC, SHCBA and KBA against the elevation of a junior SHC judge to the Supreme Court, Chief Justice of Pakistan Gulzar Ahmad has called the meeting of the JCP for holding a consultation on these two appointments. 

Reporter Mumtaz Jamali