After Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial's intervention, the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Thursday withdrew its letter wherein the Multan Cricket Stadium manager was directed to arrange “VVIP passes and red vehicle stickers” for the judges intending to attend Pakistan Super League (PSL) matches.
The LHC Multan bench senior additional registrar had written a letter to the stadium manager expressing the LHC judges' desire to attend the opening ceremony and watch matches of PSL scheduled to be held in Multan.
PSL passes for judges
"I am, therefore, to ask you to arrange Chairman Box and provide Thirty (30) VVIP Passes and red vehicle stickers for the Opening Ceremony of PSL and Twenty (25) VVIP Passes for each match of PSL scheduled in Multan, immediately, in compliance with the desire of their Lordships in letter and spirit," read the letter.
Later, the letter is withdrawn by the LHC senior additional registrar, saying that “the letter has been inscribed to you unintentionally”.
The Supreme Court of Pakistan is still short of two judges. Controversy regarding the appointment of apex court judges has dominated CJP Bandial’s one-year tenure, as elements of ‘judicial politics’ continue to be identified in the appointment of apex court judges.
Senior SC judges, who are also members of the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP), remain divided on the elevation of high court judges to the apex court. The bar councils of the superior courts also oppose the elevation of junior judges, saying they support the ‘seniority principle’ for judges’ appointments to the SC.
It may be noted that the federal law minister and the attorney general for Pakistan have supported the chief justice’s nominees for elevation to the Supreme Court.
Senior judges ‘frustrated’
Sources confirm that the situation in the Sindh High Court (SHC) is deteriorating after the court’s junior judges were elevated to the Supreme Court. Senior SHC judges are reportedly ‘frustrated’ because of this development.
Legal experts continue to call for necessary amendments to the JCP rules, in order to ensure transparency in the judges’ appointment process. It has also been noted that the chief justices do not summon JCP meetings until they are sure that a majority of the commission’s members will endorse their nominees.
