The Peshawar High Court Bar Association and Karachi Bar Association have strongly condemned the proposed appointment of ad hoc judges to the Supreme Court of Pakistan, arguing there is no urgent need for such appointments. According to a press release from Alam Khan Adenzai, secretary general of the Peshawar High Court Bar Association, the bar associations criticized the move as discriminatory against senior high court judges who deserve elevation to the apex court. They emphasized that Article 182 of the Constitution stipulates specific conditions for appointing ad hoc judges, which are not met in the current situation.
Both associations have stated they will not accept the appointment of any retired judge as an ad hoc judge. They warned that the country, already facing multiple crises, could experience further judicial turmoil if such appointments proceed. The opposition from these prominent legal bodies highlights the ongoing debates about judicial appointments and the independence of the judiciary in Pakistan.
