The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has made a significant amendment to the Judicial Service Rules, which has abolished the two-year practice requirement for civil judges. According to the notification, Rule 5 of the Judicial Service Rules has been modified to eliminate seniority-based fitness, and appointments will now be made based on merit through the Departmental Promotion Committee. The notification states that regularization of service will not be possible without completing training and passing the examination for promotion from BPS 19 to 21. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Bar Council has rejected the new method of appointment of civil judges, calling on the government to rescind its decision.
This development comes amidst a series of significant events in the country, including the release of a report by the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) on terrorist incidents in 2025, the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) conference in Doha, and the Lahore High Court’s trial in the Club Chowk Gate bombing case on May 9. The Karachi Bar Association’s emergency general body meeting has also been convened, with a proposal to hold elections on December 20.
Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial’s order to remove judges from their positions has been met with concern, with Chairman PTI Barrister Gohar Ali Khan terming it a “disturbing move.” A crackdown has been launched in North Karachi’s Khemiso Goth against power thieves. Minister for Communications and President of the Stability Pakistan Party, Abdul Alim Khan, has stated that the party’s manifesto includes the creation of new provinces, and it is illogical to oppose new provinces for resolving people’s issues.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has vowed to end encroachments in cities and towns. Bahrain’s ambassador, Mohamed Ibrahim Mohamed Abdul Qadir, has met with President Asif Ali Zardari. Maulana Fazlur Rahman, leader of the Jamaat-e-Islami, has stated that the PTI has only made a statement regarding the headship of the negotiations committee but has not established any contact.
In a significant development, the United Nations Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team has released its 16th report, which reveals that the spokesperson and media wing founder of the ISIS-Khorasan, Sultan Aziz Azam, has been arrested.
In a separate incident, a video of a domestic worker being abused has surfaced, sparking widespread outrage. The police have arrested the perpetrators and launched a search operation in the area. Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar and Justice Muhammad Aamir Khan have signed the decision.
Governor of KP has emphasized the need for provincial governments to maintain a dialogue with the federal government for the betterment of the province, stating that any decision should be taken on the basis of reason and that the government cannot engage in negotiations with terrorists.
The five-day Karachi World Book Fair 2025 has commenced at the Karachi Expo Centre, with thousands of book enthusiasts attending the event. The fair is being organized by the Pakistan Publishers and Booksellers Association (PPBA).
