PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court Bar Association on Tuesday opposed the proposed appointment of ad hoc judges to the Supreme Court of Pakistan, stating that there was no urgency for such appointments.

According to a press release issued here by the association’s secretary general Alam Khan Adenzai, the bar termed the move discrimination with senior judges of the high courts, who should have been elevated to the apex court.

The PHCBA stated that according to Article 182 of the Constitution, there were specific conditions during which an ad hoc judge could be appointed in the Supreme Court.

It added that an ad hoc judge could be appointed when there was an urgent need to increase the strength of SC judges. However, the association stated that looking at the present situation there was no such need to appoint ad hoc judges.

The PHCBA said that it wouldn’t accept appointment of any retired judge as ad hoc judge.

The association stated that the country had already been facing multiple crises and such appointments would result into judicial crisis, which was not in the interest of the country and people.

Published in Dawn, July 17th, 2024