Islamabad – Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi has termed the transfer of judges a constitutional and positive step, emphasizing the need for more judges from other provinces to be inducted.
Speaking at the oath-taking ceremony of the Press Association in Islamabad, Justice Afridi addressed concerns regarding the transfer of Islamabad High Court (IHC) judges, stating that Islamabad represents the federal center.
“We are sent to school to become gentlemen,” he remarked, adding that he had no objections to the transfers as they were conducted under constitutional provisions.
Referring to Article 200, he highlighted that a Balochi-speaking and Sindhi-speaking judge had joined the IHC, promoting national integration.
He further stated that the federation belongs to the entire country, and the inclusion of judges from different provinces is a positive development.
When asked about judges’ concerns regarding the transfers, the chief justice assured that he was actively working to address them and would continue his efforts in this regard.
“I will meet with all judges, including those from high courts, and with time, everything will be resolved,” he added.
Three judges – from Sindh, Balochistan, and Lahore – were transferred to the IHC last week, drawing severe criticism from the legal fraternity.
The transferred judges include Justice Sarfraz Dogar from the Lahore High Court, Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro from the Sindh High Court, and Justice Muhammad Asif from the Balochistan High Court. They have already assumed their duties.
The Islamabad Bar Council (IBC), Islamabad High Court Bar Association (IHCBA), and Islamabad District Bar Association (IDBA) are observing a strike today against the move.
Additionally, last week, five judges of the IHC wrote a letter to CJP Afridi, expressing concerns over reports suggesting that a transferred judge might be considered for the position of chief justice of the federal territory’s court.
The letter, signed by Justices Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, Babar Sattar, Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan, and Saman Rafat Imtiaz, was addressed to CJP Yahya Afridi, IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq, LHC Chief Justice Aalia Neelum, and SHC Chief Justice Mohammad Shafi Siddiqui.
