QUETTA, March 13: The constitution of the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) was challenged in the Balochistan High Court on Tuesday.

Speaking at a press conference along with Senator Kamran Murtaza here, Balochistan High Court Bar Association (BHCRA) President Hadi Shakeel Ahmed said that senior lawyer Sakhi Sultan had filed a constitutional petition on behalf of Balochistan's lawyers, challenging the SJC’s legal position.

Mr Ahmed said the constitution of the council was unconstitutional in the presence of the chief justice, adding that two members of the SJC were already facing references and their cases were pending before the council.

"The judges facing references of misconduct could not be included in the council," Mr Ahmed said. How could they hear the reference against Justice Chaudhry, he asked.

He said that in the presence of chief justice the appointment of acting chief justice was unconstitutional.

He condemned the manhandling of Justice Chaudhry by the personnel of law-enforcement agencies, adding that lawyers in Balochistan would continue their strike and would not attend court proceedings.