ISLAMABAD: A three-member Judicial Service Tribunal of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) will hear on Tuesday (today) around 50 appeals filed by nearly 30 judges of the capital’s subordinate judiciary who have challenged their supersession, denial of promotions and adverse annual confidential reports (ACRs) allegedly used against them in the 2021 promotion process.

The tribunal, comprising Justices Muhammad Azam Khan, Muhammad Asif and Raja Inaam Ameen Minhas, will examine the grievances of judicial officers who have questioned the criteria adopted for their performance evaluation reports and the process through which their juniors were promoted over them.

The petitioners, including district and sessions judges, additional district and sessions judges, senior civil judges and civil judges, have challenged their evaluation reports and decisions related to their promotions.

Ironically, these judicial officers have been waiting for nearly four years for a fair and just outcome of their pleas, as their appeals have remained pending before the Judicial Service Tribunal.

Judicial officers question process through which juniors were promoted over them, challenge supersession and ‘adverse’ confidential reports

The judges have challenged their ACRs, claiming that adverse or downgraded evaluations affected their promotion prospects despite their judicial performance, experience and years of service. Some judicial officers have also challenged their supersession before the tribunal.

The case of Judge Ihtasham Alam Khan has particularly drawn attention as he was declared among the “best judges” of the year, but his evaluation report was later downgraded.

Juniors elevated

Judge Khan questioned the criteria under which his ACR was reduced, arguing that the downgraded report ultimately became the reason for the denial of his promotion, while some of his juniors were elevated.

The appeals listed before the Judicial Service Tribunal include those filed by Judges Sikandar Khan, Muhammad Abbas Shah, Hafeez Ahmed, Salman Badar, Qudratullah, Sayyed Faizan Haider, Muhammad Sohail, Muhammad Naseeruddin, Mubeshar Hassan, Nasrumminalah, Muhammad Azhar Nadeem, Syed Faizan Haider Shah, Malik Muhammad Imran, Ihtasham Alam Khan, Muhammad Shoaib Akhtar, Shahzad Khan, Raja Farrukh Ali Khan, Muhammad Naveed Khan, Shaista Khan Kundi and Naima Iffat.

Several judges have filed multiple petitions regarding promotion-related issues, adverse ACRs and alleged supersession. The appeals were filed over different periods.

The controversy highlights long-standing concerns among judges of Islamabad’s subordinate judiciary regarding career progression. Judicial officers have complained that promotion opportunities in the federal capital’s judiciary have remained limited despite their lengthy service.

It may be noted that securing promotion in Islamabad’s subordinate judiciary has become an uphill task, with at least four judicial officers resigning in recent years after seeing no clear career prospects.

Previously, some judicial officers were promoted; however, other judges raised objections and alleged that some of the promoted officers had links with certain lawyers’ chambers during their practice period.

These allegations triggered a debate within legal circles regarding transparency in the promotion mechanism.

The issue also reached the Supreme Judicial Council when lawyer Murtaza Qureshi filed a reference against an IHC judge. Apart from other allegations, the reference accused the judge of favouritism in the promotion of subordinate judiciary judges.

The complainant alleged that when the judge was president of the Islamabad High Court Bar Association, he had allegedly struggled for the transfer of judicial officers working in Islamabad on deputation from other provinces.

Published in Dawn, June 23rd, 2026