SCBA seeks end to ad hoc appointments

Urges parliament to amend the relevant constitutional provision

LAHORE: The Supreme Court Bar Association has sought a constitutional amendment to end ad hoc appointment of judges.

Addressing a press conference on Saturday, SCBA president Syed Ali Zafar said independence of the judiciary was comprised by ad hoc appointments.

He said the number of permanent judicial seats should be increased if dealing with the large number of cases pending hearing at courts was a concern. Ad hoc appointments could not be justified as a solution to management of workload at courts, he said.

The SCBA president said recent ad hoc appointments in the Supreme Court of Pakistan were made on the basis of personal likings. He said the constitutional provision for ad hoc appointments had been frequently misused in the past.

He said the bar did not want confrontation with courts. He said the parliament should introduce an amendment to Article 182 of the Constitution to end ad hoc appointment of judges. He said if this was not done soon the bar might consider holding protest demonstrations in front of the parliament.

The SCBA president said no state institution should be beyond scrutiny. He said anyone found guilty of misconduct should be held accountable regardless of their association with a political party, civil or military bureaucracy or the judiciary.

He said the bar’s only interest was to ensure dispensation of justice to the litigants.

SCBA secretary Asad Manzoor Butt and executive committee members Qaiser Ameen Rana and Sohail Bhatti were also present on the occasion.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 6^th, 2015.