KARACHI: The Sindh Bar Council on Monday announced that the legal fraternity will observe a province-wide boycott of courts on May 5 against what it described as incompetency and corruption at subordinate judiciary and overlooking seniority while elevating the judges to the apex court.

Speaking at a press conference, vice chairman of SBC Salahuddin Gandapur and others were of the view that those “hardly enrolled as lawyers” were being appointed as judicial magistrates.

They alleged that the lawyers were being threatened to face contempt of court proceedings when they complained against the incompetency and corruption in the district judiciary, adding that these complaints were not being entertained.

They were of the view that elevation of Justice Munib Akhtar of the Sindh High Court to the apex court, bypassing three other senior judges, was made in violation of the judgement handed down in the Al-Jihad Trust case.

The SBC leaders called for “meaningful” consultations with bar councils for appointment of judges in the higher and superior judiciary.

Published in Dawn, May 2nd, 2018