ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi on Monday lauded the transfer of judges from other provinces to the Islamabad High Court (IHC), describing it as a constitutional move fostering national unity.
Speaking at the oath-taking ceremony of the Press Association of Supreme Court, CJP Afridi emphasized that Islamabad represents the federation and belongs to all provinces.
“The recent transfer of judges to the IHC is in line with Article 200 of the Constitution and is a positive step,” said the chief justice. He further stated that more judges from different provinces should be appointed to IHC to reflect the federation’s diversity and strengthen judicial operations in the federal capital.
Highlighting the distinction between judicial transfers and fresh appointments, CJP Afridi clarified, “These judges were already serving in their respective high courts before being transferred.”
Addressing the backlog of cases in the Supreme Court, the chief justice noted that he personally handles 30 to 40 cases daily. “We need more judges in the apex court to reduce the mounting workload,” he remarked.
Despite the CJP’s endorsement, the transfer decision faced stiff opposition from the legal fraternity in Islamabad. On Monday, lawyers from the Islamabad Bar Council, Islamabad High Court Bar Association, and District Bar Association staged a court boycott in protest against the move.
Islamabad Bar Council President Aleem Abbasi criticized the transfers, claiming that the law ministry’s decision undermined the local judiciary. “The legal community firmly rejects bringing judges from other high courts to IHC,” he said.
Echoing these concerns, Islamabad High Court Bar Association President Riasat Ali Azad questioned why a judge from the Lahore High Court was being transferred to Islamabad, calling it “unjustified interference.”
Despite lawyer protests, CJP Afridi remained steadfast in his position, advocating for cross-provincial judicial representation to strengthen judicial cooperation across the country.
