The Judicial Commission of Pakistan Tuesday approved the transfer of three judges of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) to different high courts across the country, following a meeting chaired by Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
According to a press release, the JCP met at the Supreme Court of Pakistan, with various compositions, to consider proposals regarding the transfer of Judges of the Islamabad High Court to other High Courts under Article 200 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
The meetings were convened by the Secretary of the Judicial Commission of Pakistan in exercise of powers conferred by clause (22) of Article 175A of the Constitution, as the Chairman of the Commission, while giving reason there for, declined to convene the meeting on the requisition by one third of the total members.
The commission approved the transfer of Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani to the Lahore High Court by a majority vote, with nine members supporting the move.
In a separate decision, the commission also approved the transfer of Justice Babar Sattar to the Peshawar High Court, despite three members voting against the proposal.
Similarly, the transfer of Justice Saman Rafat Imtiaz to the Sindh High Court was approved by a majority of the commission.
The members who had requisitioned the meetings for the proposed transfer of Mr. Justice Arbab M. Tahir from the Islamabad High Court to the High Court of Balochistan, and of Mr. Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro from the Islamabad High Court to the High Court of Sindh, withdrew the respective proposals.
The Commission further decided, by majority of its total membership, that any vacancy arising as a result of the transfer of a Judge from a High Court shall be filled through transfer only, and such vacancy shall not, in any manner, be treated as a vacancy for initial appointment.
According to sources, in the Judicial Commission meeting, four votes were cast against the transfer of judges.
Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi voted against the transfer of judges. Justice Muneeb Akhtar also opposed the transfer of judges wile opposition members Barrister Gohar and Senator Ali Zafar also voted against the transfer of judges.
Reporter: Amanat Gishkori