By: Naveed Satti
Rawalpindi: The appointment process of judges in the Lahore High Court has triggered a debate among lawyers’ groups in Rawalpindi, with several bar associations calling for greater transparency and fair representation of the Rawalpindi Division.
The issue emerged after lawyers’ organizations raised concerns over the recent nominations, claiming that qualified candidates from Rawalpindi Division were not given representation in the process.
The Peoples Lawyers Forum Rawalpindi Division held an emergency meeting and questioned the basis of the nominations, demanding that the Judicial Commission review the matter and provide details regarding the selection criteria, qualifications of nominated candidates and reasons for excluding other potential candidates.
The forum said that the absence of any nominee from Rawalpindi Division was a matter of concern for the legal community and requested relevant authorities to ensure that the appointment process follows constitutional principles and transparency.
The District Bar Association Rawalpindi also expressed disappointment over what it described as the continued lack of representation of the division in Lahore High Court appointments.
In a statement, the association said Rawalpindi Division has a strong legal tradition and includes a large number of experienced and senior lawyers who are capable of serving as judges of the high court.
The association maintained that ignoring such a major legal region could create concerns regarding merit, fairness and regional balance.
The High Court Bar Association Rawalpindi highlighted that the division consists of seven district bar associations and fourteen tehsil bar associations, producing several respected lawyers, judges and legal professionals who have contributed to the justice system.
The association pointed out that no member of the Rawalpindi Division bar has been confirmed as a Lahore High Court judge since 2017, despite several capable lawyers from the region having served as additional judges.
Lawyers’ groups have demanded that the nomination process should be reviewed and that all regions should receive equal opportunity based on merit and professional capability.
The Peoples Lawyers Forum also called upon President Asif Ali Zardari and relevant legal authorities to examine the concerns raised by lawyers and ensure that the process remains transparent.
The forum requested that details regarding the nominated candidates, their qualifications and the reasons behind their selection should be made available for review.
The controversy has not resulted in any confirmed finding of irregularity, but it has highlighted ongoing discussions about regional representation and transparency in judicial appointments.
The final authority regarding appointments of judges remains with the constitutional bodies responsible for the judicial selection process.
The legal community now awaits further action from the concerned authorities on the concerns raised by Rawalpindi lawyers’ organisations.
