The Lawyers Action Committee has declared a nationwide movement, labeling the Judicial Commission of Pakistan’s (JCP) recent judge appointment process as “horse trading.” The announcement comes after weeks of simmering tension between legal bodies and the judiciary over the criteria used to elevate judges to higher courts.
The committee, representing a cross-section of bar associations, claims the current selection mechanism lacks the transparency required for institutional integrity. They argue that appointments are being made based on personal affiliations rather than merit, effectively turning the constitutional process into a political bargain.
“This isn’t just about individual appointments; it’s about the soul of the judiciary,” said a spokesperson for the committee during a press conference in Lahore. “When the bench becomes a marketplace, the courtroom loses its authority.”
The protest movement is expected to disrupt court proceedings across the country starting Monday. Lawyers plan to boycott court appearances in major cities, including Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi, to force a review of the JCP’s recent decisions. They are demanding a formalized, merit-based framework that removes the ambiguity currently fueling these allegations.
The JCP has not yet issued a formal rebuttal to the “horse trading” accusations. However, sources within the commission suggest that the appointments followed standard constitutional procedures, maintaining that the body operates within its legal mandate.
For the average litigant, this standoff signals more than just a political spat. With thousands of cases already pending, a nationwide strike by the legal fraternity threatens to bring the justice system to a standstill.
The committee has vowed to continue its escalation until the current appointment process is scrapped. Whether they have the leverage to force a shift in the judiciary’s internal mechanics remains the primary question — one that will be tested when the courts open their doors next week.
