New appointments by former LHC CJ irk lawyers

Lawyers claim former CJ violated SC judgment

LAHORE: A few of the recent appointments made by the former Lahore High Court (LHC) Chief Justice (CJ) has sparked a debate amongst lawyers’ community who claim the act is in violation of the Supreme Court (SC) judgment.

Former LHC CJ Justice Sardar Muhammad Shamim Khan, who retired yesterday, made one appointment on the opening of administration office coordinator and three appointments on assistant registrar posts by using his discretionary power, a couple of days before his retirement.

“No legal formalities were followed by former LHC CJ, appointments are in violation of the judgment passed by the country’s top court in Muhammad Akram case in 2016 in which clear directions were given to stop such practices,” the lawyers said.

Senior lawyer and Pakistan Bar Council member Ahsan Bhoon termed the appointments “midnight appointments” adding, “such practices should be stopped for the fair dispensation of justice.”

“All appointments should be made on merits rather than based on likes and dislikes.”

Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) President Hafeezur Rehman Chaudhary said he opposes such recruitments that deprive the right of upright candidates.

“It is astonishing that no advertisements were placed, neither tests nor interviews were conducted; instead the recruitments were made by using discretionary powers,” claimed SC Advocate Azhar Siddique.

LHC Registrar Abdul Sattar told The Express Tribune that the appointments were made by the retired LHC CJ Justice Sardar Shamim.

He said the former CJ had made appointments using his discretionary powers under rules 26 and 8.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 1^st, 2020.