ISLAMABAD, Jan 30: The Supreme Court Bar Association filed on Wednesday a petition in the Supreme Court, challenging the elevation of junior judges from Lahore High Court to the apex court.

In a constitutional petition filed under article 184 (3), the association challenged the appointment of Justice Khalilur Rehman Ramday, Justice Mohammad Nawaz Abbasi and Justice Fakeer Mohammad Khokhar.

It specially challenged the appointment of Justice Fakeer Mohammad Khokhar who has superseded at least 10 judges. The association said the recent appointments were violative of the court’s own judgment, and “have further undermined independence of judiciary in Pakistan.”

The association said: “The recent appointments to the Supreme Court from amongst the judges of the Lahore High Court are in clear violation of the verdict of the Supreme Court in Al-Jehad Trust vs Federation of Pakistan.

“The appointment of junior judges of the Lahore High Court to the Supreme Court ahead of the chief justice and senior puisne judge is blatant and arbitrary violation of the principle of seniority.”

It said the Judges’ Case, despite its shortcomings, was accepted by the lawyers community because it had the potential of making judiciary self-operative and independent institution.

It said the appointments would set in motion among the judges to run after the government in power for out-of-turn appointments to the SC.