In a notable absence, judges of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) chose not to attend the oath-taking ceremony of the newly appointed acting Chief Justice, Sardar Muhammad Sarfaraz Dogar, on Friday. Their absence was mirrored by the legal fraternity in the federal capital, who have expressed strong disapproval of Justice Dogar’s appointment.
The oath was administered by President Asif Ali Zardari at the Presidential House. While all judges of the IHC were invited to the event, Justices Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, Babar Sattar, Sardar Ijaz Ishaq Khan, and Saman Rafat Imtiaz were notably absent.
Interestingly, on the same day, Justice Kayani attended a swearing-in ceremony for new Supreme Court judges, held just a short distance away from the Presidential House. The Islamabad Bar Council and the District Bar Association have labeled Justice Dogar’s appointment as “selective” and have threatened to initiate a protest movement.
Justice Jahangiri, attending an event hosted by the Islamabad High Court Bar Association, emphasized the significance of hard work and merit within the legal profession. Meanwhile, Justice Kayani and four other judges have contested the updated seniority list, formally raising their grievances with the Chief Justice of Pakistan. However, their petition was dismissed by Justice Aamir Farooq, upholding the new list.
The legal community in Islamabad has rejected Justice Dogar’s appointment, decrying it as a move towards “selective appointments” of judges and threatening to launch a campaign against the government. Riaz Ali Azad, President of the Islamabad High Court Bar Association, also raised objections, arguing that the appointment undermines seniority and infringes upon the rights of 15 senior judges.
The lawyers have vowed to organize a movement similar to the one that led to the removal of Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar, who had taken oath as Chief Justice under the Provisional Constitutional Order imposed by former President General Pervez Musharraf.
