• JCP set to hold key meetings on judicial appointments, transfers
• Islamabad lawyers step up efforts, meet SC, FCC chief justices; call for local appointments

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad Bar Council (IBC) has stepped up efforts to secure representation for local lawyers in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) as the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) is expected to convene important meetings in the coming weeks to deliberate on judicial appointments and transfers.

According to sources, the JCP is likely to take up appointments in provincial high courts as well as the IHC. The anticipated meetings have gained added significance amid reports that the commission may also consider the transfer of judges between high courts alongside fresh elevations.

Uncertainty over the timing of the JCP meeting had emerged earlier this month after its secretary, Niaz Muhammad Khan, proceeded on a month-long leave. However, sources confirmed that he resumed duties a day earlier after cutting short his leave, removing a potential hurdle to convening the commission’s session.

With preparations for the JCP meetings underway, the IBC has intensified lobbying to ensure that vacancies in the IHC are filled by lawyers belonging to Islamabad’s legal fraternity. Sources said the council is advocating for the inclusion of practitioners registered with local bar associations, emphasising their familiarity with the federal capital’s legal environment.

Several prominent names are currently under consideration for elevation to the IHC bench. These include former advocate general Ayyaz Shaukat, tax law expert Usman G. Rashid Cheema, Umair Majeed Malik and Sultan Mazhar Sher Khan. In addition, two serving district and sessions judges — Shahrukh Arjumand and Humayun Dilawar — are also being considered for elevation.

In a bid to press their case, members of the IBC, including Raja Aleem Khan Abbasi, Raja Rizwan Abbasi and Islamabad High Court Bar Assoc­iation’s executive com­mittee member Chau­dhry Manzoor Ahmed Jajja, held meetings with key judicial figures. On Monday, they met Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) Chief Justice Aminuddin Khan, while on Tuesday they called on Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi.

Sources said that during the meeting with Justice Aminuddin, JCP member Zulfiqar Abbasi was also present. However, he did not attend the meeting with CJP Afridi.

During their interaction with the CJP, the Islamabad Bar Council representatives urged Justice Yahya Afridi to prioritise candidates from Islamabad’s legal community and to discourage the appointment of lawyers from outside the capital. They argued that local practitioners are better suited to address the unique legal challenges of the federal territory.

Meanwhile, the Isla­mabad District Bar Asso­ciation has also voi­ced similar concerns, issuing a statement calling upon the JCP to ensure that local lawyers are given due consideration in the upcoming elevations. The association termed it “unjust” if appointments are made from outside Islamabad, warning that such decisions could unde­rmine the interests of the local bar.

A senior lawyer, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that both the IBC and the Islamabad High Court Bar Asso­ciation are expected to issue further statements reinforcing their demand for local representation.

Sources also revealed that IBC members are likely to meet IHC Chief Justice Sardar Muh­ammad Sarfraz Dogar to press for the nomination of local candidates. They are expected to request him to forward only the names of Islamabad-based lawyers for consideration in the forthcoming JCP meetings.

Published in Dawn, April 15th, 2026