The Islamabad Bar Council, Islamabad High Court Bar Association, and Islamabad District Bar Association have announced a strike on Monday to protest the transfer of judges from other courts to the Islamabad High Court (IHC).
In a joint statement, they rejected the appointments and vowed not to accept what they called a politically motivated move. The protest follows the federal law ministry’s decision to transfer three judges from high courts in Sindh, Lahore, and Balochistan to the IHC.
The transferred judges are Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar (Lahore High Court), Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro (Sindh High Court), and Justice Muhammad Asif (Balochistan High Court).
Earlier, five IHC judges wrote to the Supreme Court and other high courts, expressing concerns over reports that one of the transferred judges might be appointed as IHC’s chief justice.
IHC Bar Association Chairman Aleem Abassi criticized the move as “an attempt to divide the judiciary.” He called for a nationwide lawyers’ convention on Monday and warned of escalating protests if the transfers were not reversed.
Lawyers further alleged that judicial appointments and Supreme Court promotions were being influenced by political interests, threatening judicial independence. They also demanded the postponement of the Judicial Commission of Pakistan’s February 10 meeting, warning of further tensions within the judiciary.