The Pakistan Bar Council on Thursday supported the appointment of ad hoc judges in the Supreme Court.
According to the Pakistan Bar Council’s statement, “The cases of ordinary litigants in the Supreme Court are facing delays due to political cases. The bar has also demanded the establishment of a separate constitutional court.”
The statement emphasised that a separate constitutional court should be established through a constitutional amendment to decide constitutional and political cases, thereby saving the valuable time of the Supreme Court judges.
The members of the Pakistan Bar Council had requested the chief justice to appoint former judges as ad hoc judges.
Meanwhile Justice retired Maqbool Baqir has declined his appointment in the Supreme Court as ad-hoc judge.
In his statement, he stated, “I am not joining SC as an ad-hoc judge due to personal reasons.”
He asserted that “Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) is working with honesty and pure intentions. CJP’s decision to appoint ad-hoc judges in the apex court is purely legal and constitutional.”
He disclosed that “Qazi Faez Isa has discussed this matter with him as SC is being occupied with political cases.” Maqbool Baqir stated that thousands of cases were pending in the SC and appointment of ad-hoc judges was to sort out the issue of pending cases. He asserted that Justice Tariq Masood Khosa, Justice Mazhar Alm Mian Khel were quite talented and honest judges.
Justice Tariq Masood Khosa, Justice Mazhar Alm Mian Khel, Justice Maqbool Baqir and Mushir Alam were selected for appointment in the apex court as ad-hoc judge, however, letter two judges declined to perform
duty.
