ISLAMABAD: The Judicial Commission of Pakistan sanctioned the transfer of three Islamabad High Court (IHC) judges to various provincial high courts during a meeting led by Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi.
As per an official statement, the meeting took place at the Supreme Court premises with members deliberating on proposals to reassign Islamabad High Court judges to other jurisdictions under Article 200 of the Constitution of Pakistan.
The sessions were convened by the Secretary of the Judicial Commission, invoking authority granted by clause (22) of Article 175A, after the Chairman of the Commission refused to hold the meeting upon the requisition of one-third of the members.
The commission granted approval for Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani to be transferred to the Lahore High Court, with nine members voting in favor.
In another decision, Justice Babar Sattar’s transfer to the Peshawar High Court was approved, despite opposition from three members.
Similarly, the transfer of Justice Saman Rafat Imtiaz to the Sindh High Court was ratified by the majority.
Members who had initially proposed the transfer of Justice Arbab M. Tahir from IHC to Balochistan High Court, and Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro from IHC to Sindh High Court, later withdrew their proposals.The commission also resolved, through a majority vote, that vacancies created by judges’ transfers in any high court would be filled exclusively through transfers, not initial appointments.
Sources revealed that four members voted against the transfers during the meeting. Chief Justice Yahya Afridi, Justice Muneeb Akhtar, Barrister Gohar, and Senator Ali Zafar cast dissenting votes.
