A large number of lawyers gathered at Islamabad’s D-Chowk on Monday to protest against the 26th Constitutional Amendment.
Speaking at a joint press conference, Islamabad High Court Bar Association (IHCA) President Riasat Ali Azad announced that decisions made during today’s Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) meeting would be challenged.
The JCP meeting, chaired by Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Yahya Afridi, approved the appointment of six judges to the Supreme Court.
The IHCA president called off the protest for the day but vowed that lawyers would continue their demonstrations daily during hearings of petitions filed against the recent constitutional changes.
Azad stated that representatives from all three federal bar councils participated in the protest and that a long march would be launched during the court hearings on the amendment.
He claimed that the 26th Constitutional Amendment was used to block Supreme Court senior puisne judge Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah from becoming the Chief Justice of Pakistan. He further alleged that the same approach was being applied to the Islamabad High Court.
Tight Security Outside Supreme Court
In response to the lawyers’ protest call outside the Supreme Court, security was heightened. A heavy police contingent was deployed within the court premises, and only Margalla Road was kept open for access. Two layers of security were enforced outside the Supreme Court.
The protesting lawyers demanded that the JCP meeting scheduled for the same day be postponed, but their request was denied.
Authorities blocked Srinagar Highway, Nadra Chowk, and Serena Chowk, preventing lawyers from entering the Red Zone.
Clashes broke out at Serena Chowk as lawyers attempted to forcefully enter the area. Lawyers from Sindh and Balochistan also joined the protest and blocked the Srinagar Highway.
Divisions Within the Legal Community
Meanwhile, some lawyer organizations rejected the protest against the Judicial Commission, claiming that certain groups were staging demonstrations for their political motives.
In a joint statement, the Pakistan Bar Council, Supreme Court Bar Association, Punjab Bar Council, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Bar Council, Balochistan High Court Bar Association, and Sindh High Court Bar Association condemned the protest appeal.
These organizations fully backed the Judicial Commission’s actions and stated that they supported the 26th Constitutional Amendment and subsequent legislation as a legitimate part of the Constitution.
The statement asserted that only representative organizations had the right to call for protests. Three joint statements have been released reiterating this stance.
