A judicial commission had recommended judges Irfan Saadat Khan and Ghulam Sarwar Korai for the Sindh High Court (SHC), which has been straining under the burden of cases as it has only 12 judges.
The SHC is supposed to have a strength of 40 judges. But then a parliamentary committee refused to confirm these appointments. Petitions challenging this decision were subsequently filed.
On Monday, a full SHC bench of Justices Maqbool Baqar, Faisal Arab and Sajjad Ali Shah called the lawyers for the petitioners and Deputy Attorney General Ashique Raza in chambers and shared with them the record of the parliamentary committee.
However, as the proceedings were in camera, the reason for the government’s rejection cannot be shared with the public, said Barrister Faroug Naseem while talking to The Express Tribune later on. He is fighting the case for one of the petitioners. He did say, however, that after they went through the record, the two judges and their lawyers were of the view that no justification was given for the rejection.
The bench put off the hearings, directing the DAG appearing for the State to file all documents related to the case. The bench made it clear that on February 6, the proceedings would be held and no adjournment request would be allowed.
At previous hearings, the two judges came forward and submitted applications to become a party to the petitions. Barrister Makhdoom Ali Khan had filed the application on behalf of the two judges whose rejection had generated a controversy in the appointment of judges to the superior courts.
One of the petitions was filed by a social worker while the other two were filed by the Sindh High Court and Sukkur Bar associations.
SHCBA general body meeting
In other news, the Sindh High Court Bar Association (SHCBA) held a general body meeting to discuss the threats to lawyers and judges and the acute shortage of judges in the SHC, here on Monday.
The meeting was addressed by vice president Ashique Ali Anwar Rana, honorary secretary Shahab Sarki, Salahuddin Khan Gandapur among others. They felt that the direct and indirect threats are making it difficult for lawyers and judges to work.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 24th, 2012.
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When the Courts ,Let the Media Video a Murderers Trial.,But willnot let familys half the chance to get and keep their family together and Thats Not worth the time. to find the TRUTH...We know what their doing to Americans..Criminals and Felons can go back to their familys If they have Killed someone..but a Daddy that has children that he took care of ,the Mother was blind and Couldnt Do , So I Took care of them..Her family wasnt there ,and I dont have family cause ..My Parents Gave Me away at Birth...On recording ,my lawyer said because of the way I was raised .As To prepareing for Appeal to Supreme Court.in west Va..and I have Other Proofs to The Fraud on the Circuit Court,Judge Derik Swope..Had Incamera with My babys and Lied to Them..Have Copy of Incamera interview..That what The Judge and the GAL /.Julie lynch..Child law services..Mercer Co..West Va..I Had court appointed Lawyer Charles 'Chuck' Mullins,Office in Pineville west va....Have nothin to Hide or Run from...Have Plenty Papertrail of Lies...TFYT.