CapitalLawyers Seek Exclusive Role in IHC Appointments Amid Corruption Concerns

ISLAMABAD — Representatives of the federal capital’s legal community on Tuesday called for all future appointments to the Islamabad High Court (IHC) to be sourced exclusively from within the local legal profession, citing serious concerns about alleged corruption in the district judiciary.

The demands were articulated during a joint press conference held at the Islamabad High Court Bar Association, following a meeting that included representatives from the Pakistan Bar Council, the Islamabad Bar Council, the Islamabad High Court Bar Association, and the Islamabad District Bar Association.

Present were Pakistan Bar Council member Raja Rizwan Abbasi, Islamabad Bar Council member Raja Aleem Abbasi, Islamabad High Court Bar Association President Syed Wajid Ali Gilani, Secretary Barrister Qasim Nawaz Abbasi, Islamabad District Bar Association President Chaudhry Naeem Gujjar, and Secretary Dhani Khanyal.

Addressing the media, Raja Aleem Abbasi noted that lawyers had deliberated for more than three hours on issues confronting the legal fraternity, particularly the performance of the subordinate judiciary. He alleged that corruption complaints were being lodged within the district judiciary and urged authorities to take decisive notice.

Bars representatives allege corruption in lower judiciary, call for judicial reforms

He urged the National Judicial Policy‑Making Committee to devise a mechanism for addressing corruption allegations and improving accountability in lower courts, and proposed the transfer of district judges to other provinces as part of broader judicial reforms.

Regarding the composition of the IHC, Abbasi argued that its appointments should be drawn from lawyers practising in Islamabad, noting that judges of provincial high courts are typically selected from within their respective provinces and that the same principle should apply to the federal capital.

“The Islamabad High Court belongs to Islamabad, and appointments should be made from the Islamabad Bar,” he said, adding that the legal community had rejected recent decisions of the Judicial Commission concerning appointments and was seeking amendments to the Islamabad High Court Act.

Abbasi warned that a nationwide lawyers’ convention could be convened if the concerns remained unaddressed.

Islamabad High Court Bar Association President Syed Wajid Ali Gilani endorsed the demands raised by bar representatives and indicated that the legal fraternity would organise a larger convention should the need arise.

Barrister Qasim Nawaz Abbasi called for immediate action against judges found involved in corruption and maintained that several lawyers from the Islamabad Bar were qualified candidates for elevation to the high court.

District Bar Association President Chaudhry Naeem Gujjar echoed the concerns regarding the subordinate judiciary, alleging that judicial officers frequently justified decisions by citing instructions from higher authorities.

The lawyers’ representatives concluded by reiterating their demand that appointments to the Islamabad High Court be made primarily from the Islamabad Bar and that judicial reforms focus on restoring public trust in the justice system.

Published in Dawn, June 10th, 2026

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