Bar demands share in judges' appointments
The Rawalpindi District Bar Association has demanded a formal share in the appointment of judges in the Lahore High Court and Islamabad High Court, stating that Rawalpindi Bar has consistently been ignored in judicial appointments.
It warned that continued neglect will be challenged at all levels and protests will be held to any extent.
Bar President Tariq Mahmood Sajid Awan and Secretary Qamar Khan Niazi, along with Vice President Nazia Yasin Hashmi, Joint Secretary Ahsan Saleem and executive body members, expressed these views during a joint press conference.
They said a ban on judges visiting district bars has been imposed under a planned conspiracy aimed at dividing the bar and the bench, adding that lawyers will not allow it to succeed and the notification restricting judges' entry into bars should be withdrawn.
They said Rawalpindi Bar has been ignored in judicial appointments for over a decade, resulting in highly experienced and capable lawyers being overlooked.
They added that the bar must unite to secure its rightful share in the judiciary. While lawyers from Multan and Bahawalpur are included in the Lahore High Court bench, Rawalpindi Barthird largest in Pakistan and second in Punjabcontinues to be ignored.
They said Rawalpindi Bar has always played an effective role in upholding constitutional supremacy, rule of law and judicial independence.
The bar currently has 9,000 lawyers whose capabilities are being wasted. They said names such as Khalid Mahmood Abbasi, Agha Muhammad Ali, Muhammad Bashir Paracha and Raja Ghazanfar were removed from the list of judicial appointments.
They added that Rawalpindi Bar has produced several notable judges and lawyers including Justice Waqas Rauf, Justice Sadaqat Ali Khan, Justice Sardar Aslam, Justice (retd) Maulvi Anwarul Haq, Justice (retd) Ibadur Rehman Lodhi, Rab Nawaz Noon, Sardar Ishaq and Chaudhry Zamarrud, who played exemplary roles. They alleged that capabilities of several lawyers, including Malik Waheed Anjum and Basharatullah Khan, were wasted under a conspiracy.
Addressing the Chief Justice of Pakistan and the Judicial Commission, they said Rawalpindi Bar will no longer remain a silent spectator and demanded that four seats in the Lahore High Court be allocated to it.