LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Thursday summoned members of a Punjab government’s committee formed to finalise the appointments of judges in the special courts including anti-terrorism and accountability in the province.

Earlier, Advocate General of Punjab (AGP) Khalid Ishaq presented a report before the court, saying the delay in judicial appointments was not deliberate.

He said in light of the decision of the Supreme Court, it was necessary to discuss judicial appointments in the cabinet.

He stated that a letter had been written to the LHC registrar for consultation.

Chief Justice Malik Shahzad Ahmad Khan asked the AGP how many times consultations were made by the government in the past on the appointment of the judicial officers.

He said if the law required a consultation, the same should be done in open court.

The chief justice said in case of further delay, the chief minister could be summoned.

He noted that being the head of the cabinet, the decision regarding the appointments lies with the chief minister.

“We are here for justice,” said the chief justice.

He maintained that the court had no affiliation with any party, so the AGP should not become a party either.

The chief justice observed that despite repeated letters by the LHC registrar, the appointments had not been made.

“Your behaviour is clearly contempt of court,” Chief Justice Khan reminded the principal law officer.

To a court’s query, the AGP admitted that seats for judges were vacant in the courts for antiterrorism, accountability, service and revenue tribunals.

The CJ remarked that since 2015, people had been in jail without trial due to the unavailability of the judges. He said the registrar had repeatedly sent letters to the government, but the appointments had not been made.

Registrar Abdul Rashid also presented the record of the judges’ vacancies.

The CJ summoned the members of the government’s committee on Friday (today).

The CJ had taken notice of the judges’ vacancies hearing a government’s appeal seeking transfer of May 9 cases against the PTI leaders from an ATC of Rawalpindi.

Published in Dawn, May 17th, 2024