PESHAWAR: Peshawar High Court (PHC) Chief Justice Mohammad Ibrahim Khan has raised concerns regarding what he perceives as the exclusion of judges from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) in the consideration for elevation to the Supreme Court.
PHC Chief Justice, Ibrahim Khan, who is due to retire on April 14, addressed his concerns in a letter to Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa. In the four-page letter, he expressed disappointment over what he sees as arbitrariness, discrimination, and favoritism in the appointment of judges to the Supreme Court.
Highlighting the recent vacancies in the Supreme Court, Justice Ibrahim Khan noted that while there were four vacancies, only one was filled by appointing a judge from the Balochistan High Court. He expressed perplexity over the decision, especially considering his seniority, eligibility, and the availability of vacancies.
Justice Ibrahim Khan, who is the second senior-most Chief Justice among all High Courts in Pakistan, underscored his legitimate expectation of being considered for elevation to the Supreme Court, given his qualifications and seniority. He emphasized his commitment to the judiciary over his 31 years of service and his dedication to upholding integrity, impartiality, and justice.
In his letter, Justice Ibrahim Khan questioned the rationale behind appointing only one judge while three vacancies remained unfilled, particularly when considering the imbalance in representation between provinces. He pointed out that presently, there are three judges from Balochistan in the Supreme Court compared to only two from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, suggesting a discrepancy in representation.
Justice Ibrahim Khan also forwarded copies of the letter to four senior judges of the Supreme Court, seeking transparency and fairness in the judicial process.
This letter reflects the concerns of Justice Ibrahim Khan regarding what he perceives as disparities in the appointment process for judges to the Supreme Court, particularly in terms of regional representation and adherence to merit-based principles.
