Chief Justices
ISLAMABAD: In a major development within Pakistan’s judicial landscape, the Ministry of Law and Justice has officially issued notifications for the permanent appointments of chief justices to all four high courts of the country.
This decision comes following the formal approval of President Asif Ali Zardari and marks a significant reorganization of high-level judicial leadership across the provinces.
According to the notification, Justice Sarfraz Dogar has been appointed as the Chief Justice of the Islamabad High Court (IHC), solidifying his position after serving in an acting capacity.
Justice Junaid Ghaffar has been named Chief Justice of the Sindh High Court, while Justice Rozi Khan Bareech has been appointed as the Chief Justice of the Balochistan High Court. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Justice Atiq Shah has been confirmed as the Chief Justice of the Peshawar High Court.
These appointments follow the recent nominations made by the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP), which recommended permanent chief justices for all four high courts just a week ago. The JCP’s nominations aimed to bring administrative stability and ensure continuity in judicial leadership at the provincial level.
Justice Dogar’s appointment to the IHC has been particularly contentious. Earlier this year, five senior judges of the Islamabad High Court — including Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kiyani, Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, Justice Babar Sattar, Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan, and Justice Saman Riffat Imtiaz — filed a petition in the Supreme Court challenging his appointment as acting chief justice, as well as the transfer of three judges to the IHC. However, the Supreme Court dismissed their petitions on June 19, allowing Justice Dogar to continue serving in an acting capacity.
Following the apex court’s ruling, the Ministry of Law and Justice issued a revised seniority list for IHC judges, officially recognizing Justice Dogar as the “senior-most judge” of the court. This move paved the way for his permanent appointment.
Despite the Supreme Court’s decision, the five IHC judges have since filed an intra-court appeal (ICA) seeking to overturn the June 19 verdict.
In their plea, they urged the apex court to “recall and set aside” the ruling, citing concerns about procedural fairness and the integrity of judicial appointments. They have also requested interim relief until the appeal is adjudicated, along with any other relief the court deems appropriate.
The appointment of permanent chief justices to all four high courts is a significant step in ensuring consistency and credibility in Pakistan’s judiciary.
However, the ongoing legal challenges reflect deep-rooted tensions within the system and highlight the need for transparent processes and consensus-building in judicial affairs.
