Three judges transferred to IHC tell SC not interested in engaging lawyer
Say will accept whatever verdict apex court gives in the case
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All three judges, who were transferred to the Islamabad High Court (IHC), on Thursday conveyed to the Supreme Court (SC) that they were not interested in engaging a lawyer, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
During the hearing of the judges’ transfer case, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar asked, “Is there anybody to represent Justice Sarfaraz Dogar and two other judges in the court?”
The attorney-general of Pakistan (AGP) told the judge that he had just received a message from the three judges. “They all have said they will not engage a lawyer. And they will accept whatever decision the court gives in the case.”
The AGP informed that the government was not going to appoint a chief justice of the IHC on a permanent basis. “The matter is not included in the Judicial Commission’s meeting’s agenda.”
He also informed that the appointment of the chief justices of the Peshawar High Court (PHC) and Balochistan High Court (BHC) would come under discussion at the commission’s meeting scheduled to be held on May 2.
In an important development, the federal government had on Wednesday requested the SC to throw out all petitions pertaining to the transfers of judges from other high courts to the Islamabad High Court (IHC).
In its reply submitted to the SC in the case, the government argued that the judges had been transferred as per the constitution and they needed not to take a fresh oath. “Under article 200, a transfer does not mean an appointment,” it said, adding nowhere in the constitution was it written that the transfer of judges would be temporary.
It claimed that the judges’ transfer would bring transparency to the judiciary rather than trampling upon its freedom.
It further said that the Judicial Commission had appointed two judges in the IHC and left three seats vacant. “When it comes to the transfer of judges, the president’s powers are limited,” the government said, adding, “The real authority is that of the chief justice of Pakistan (CJP).”
It went on to say that the judge and the concerned high court’s chief justice also have an authority.
Reporter: Amanat Gishkori