Islamabad Lawyers to Strike Against ‘Unconstitutional’ Judicial Appointments

Islamabad’s legal community, including the Islamabad Bar Council, Islamabad High Court Bar Association, and Islamabad District Bar Association, has announced a strike for tomorrow in both the district courts and the Islamabad High Court. This action protests recent judicial appointments they deem “unconstitutional” and detrimental to judicial independence. The decision follows President Asif Ali Zardari’s approval of transferring three judges to the Islamabad High Court, a move that faced opposition from five of its own judges. The legal fraternity is committed to challenging these decisions through all available legal and constitutional avenues. They also demand that their application to nullify the 26th Constitutional Amendment be heard by the full bench of the Supreme Court. Additionally, they oppose the Judicial Commission of Pakistan’s upcoming meeting to appoint additional Supreme Court judges, viewing it as an attempt to manipulate the court’s composition. An All Pakistan Lawyers’ Convention is scheduled for February 3 to formulate a future strategy.