IHC Appointment Process Faces Political Crosscurrents Ahead of Major Opposition Demonstrations

The Judicial Commission of Pakistan is scheduled to convene on July 20 to appoint three judges to the Islamabad High Court, a decision that has become politically charged as opposition parties prepare a nationwide protest campaign.

Stakeholders are keen to avoid alienating the legal community in the capital ahead of a major demonstration planned for August 5, marking three years since the conviction of former Prime Minister Imran Khan.

The IHC administration, headed by Chief Justice Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar, has forwarded three candidates for the vacant positions: District and Sessions Judge Shahrukh Arjumand, former Attorney General of Islamabad Ayyaz Shaukat, currently serving as chairman of the Social Media Protection and Regulatory Authority, and lawyer Umair Majeed Malik.

These nominations followed the JCP’s June 19 session, during which new procedural rules were adopted and a July 4 deadline for applications was set. A seven‑member interview panel will evaluate the candidates.

Representatives from the Pakistan Bar Council and the Islamabad Bar Council have suggested the inclusion of Syed Wajid Ali Gillani, the resident judge of the Islamabad High Court Bar, and have put forward Wajid Mughal as another possible nominee. Senator Farooq H. Naek has also recommended Syed Qamar Hussain Sabzwari and Syed Intikhab Hussain Shah.

Local legal bodies argue that, similar to appointments in provincial high courts, selections for the IHC should primarily reflect the capital’s legal fraternity, a stance that has heightened tensions as the opposition alliance Tehreek‑i‑Tahaffuz Ayeen‑e‑Pakistan (TTAP) prepares mass demonstrations.

Sources indicate that the IHC Bar Association, located on Constitution Avenue, could become a focal point for protests if lawyers feel marginalized by the selection process, potentially bolstering the opposition’s numbers.

Given the political sensitivities, authorities may seek a candidate with broad acceptance among bar associations to prevent further unrest.

Interviews for the shortlisted candidates are slated for July 13, after which the JCP will hold sessions from July 20 to 23 to finalize appointments across the higher courts.

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