PESHAWAR, June 13: A senior advocate on Wednesday challenged before the Peshawar High Court the shortage of judges and requested the vacant posts may be filled by appointing permanent judges.

A writ petition was filed by Advocate Muhibullah Kakakhel stating that the post of permanent judges may not be filled by appointment of additional judges in the high court as it violated the principles laid down in Article 175 of the Constitution. Presently, half of the 20 sanctioned posts of judges in the high court are vacant and the serving judges include five each as confirmed and additional judges.

The respondents in the petition are: President, prime minister, government of Pakistan through federal law secretary, chief justice of PHC through registrar, chairman of Judicial Commission through registrar of the Supreme Court and parliamentary committee for appointment of judges through its secretary.

The petitioner prayed the court to direct that sufficient additional judges of the high court may be appointed under Article 197 of the Constitution to clear the huge pendency of cases from amongst the senior district judges or lawyers for a specified period as deemed fit.

The petitioner has also challenged the constitution of a circuit bench at Bannu and requested the court to declare it in violation of the Constitution.