PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Bar Council on Wednesday expressed concern over the decision of the Judicial Commission of Pakistan to appoint Justice Aalia Neelum as the chief justice of the Lahore High Court after superseding two most senior judges and insisted that the move violated the principle of seniority.

In a joint news release, KPBC vice-chairman Sadiq Ali Mohmand and executive committee chairman Syed Taimoor Ali Shah criticised the JCP’s decision and said by superseding the two most senior judges, the commission had not only violated its own rules and decisions but it also went against the judgement of the Supreme Court in the Al-Jehad Trust case.

They said that the lawyers across the country opposed the decision believing it was against the struggle rendered by them for upholding the principle of seniority in the judiciary.

Mr Mohmand and Mr Shah said the lawyers and people of the country had a lot of expectations from the Supreme Court chief justice, so he should abide by his earlier stand on the matter and act in line with the Constitution and the law.

They also rejected the federal budget for the current fiscal and said the Finance Act 2024-25 would increase inflation, which had already made the people’s life miserable.

The KPBC leaders said currently, the country facedpolitical and economic instability, which was a matter of concern for all residents, including lawyers.

They said the imposition of “oppressive” taxes on peopleand continuous increase in electricity and gas charges and petroleum prices amounted to crushing the people.

Published in Dawn, July 4th, 2024