Merit ignored?: Lawyers strike over nominations of new PHC judges

Boycott court proceedings in protest, demand new round of nomination

PESHAWAR: Lawyers at the Peshawar High Court (PHC) and lower courts observed a strike following the call of the Peshawar High Court Bar Association (PHCBA) on Friday. The association demanded the retraction of the nomination of four new high court judges.

A protest camp was set up outside the PHC. All court proceedings were boycotted and banners and black flags were put up on the premises. The decision of protesting across the province was taken on Thursday during a meeting of all district bar associations chaired by PHCBA President Muhammad Isa Khan. The PHCBA claims all associations and lawyers are united for the cause and there is no rift among them.



“We started the struggle for the supremacy of the judiciary and want the decision to be reversed,” PHCBA Secretary General Muhammad Ayaz told the media, adding the protests will continue until the parliamentary committee bows down to the demands. Ayaz alleged the nomination of the four judges on October 17 is the “death of merit”.

He explained the protesters want to strengthen the judiciary which is the last hope of the public for justice. He hoped the committee will nullify the nomination and that the reappointments will be made on merit.



The judicial commission’s meeting that tabled the four names was chaired by Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Nasirul Mulk. Younas Tahmee, Ghazanfar Khan, Haider Ali and Qalandar Ali Khan were nominated for the high court. The names have been forwarded to the parliamentary committee which, after approval, will forward recommendations to President Mamnoon Hussain for the final decision.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 25^th, 2014.