Lawyers Action Committee terms JCP judge appointment process 'horse trading', announces nationwide movement

Pakistan's Lawyers Action Committee (LAC) has strongly condemned the Judicial Commission of Pakistan's (JCP) process for appointing judges to the country's high courts, labeling it as "horse trading" and a "horrific" procedure. The committee adopted a resolution in Islamabad, asserting that the current appointment system is causing severe damage to Pakistan's justice system.

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While the adverse fallout of the 26th and 27th constitutional amendments continues to wreak havoc on Pakistan’s justice system, the current process of appointing judges to the high courts is particularly horrific.

In response to these concerns, the LAC has nominated veteran lawyer and former Supreme Court Bar Association president Ali Ahmed Kurd to lead a new nationwide movement. Kurd accepted the leadership with a heavy heart, citing a loss of public faith in the justice system. He stated that the movement aims to mobilize the public, emphasizing that citizens are the primary stakeholders in the justice system. The LAC plans to hold its first public meeting in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and has also been invited to organize a program in London by overseas Pakistanis.

The committee's resolution urged JCP members with a conscience to withdraw from what it termed a "horse-trading exercise" and to speak out against the "farce." The LAC lamented that high court appointments have devolved into political nominations, allegedly granted as rewards for loyalty or secured through financial influence. The resolution warned that when judges gain positions based on maneuvering rather than competence or integrity, the future of justice in Pakistan is jeopardized.

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I have accepted the leadership of the movement with a heavy heart at the insistence of my colleagues, particularly because the people of the country have lost faith in the justice system.

Furthermore, the LAC expressed deep concern over the worsening security situation in Balochistan, noting the loss of lives due to frequent terrorist attacks. The committee criticized the pursuit of a "hard state" policy, arguing that it has alienated large segments of the population in the region, led to security losses, and fueled resentment that is being exploited by others. The committee also called for the constitution to be upheld.

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When high court judges obtain their positions not on the basis of competence or integrity, but through their ability to manoeuvre among different groups and political parties within the Judicial Commission of Pakistan, the future of justice in Pakistan is surely doomed.