ISLAMABAD – The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Tuesday expressed serious concern over the use of the term “deputationists” for transferred judges, calling it misleading and inappropriate. The five-member constitutional bench, led by Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, highlighted contradictions in legal arguments during the ongoing judicial transfer case.
Justice Mazhar stated that judges who are transferred cannot be viewed as deputed officials. He said it was disappointing to see such labels being used, especially when the judges themselves had not clearly addressed the transfer process in their official response.
Lawyer Faisal Siddiqi maintained that judicial transfers are temporary and do not affect a judge’s seniority. However, Justice Mazhar challenged this stance by raising questions about the Prime Minister’s role under Article 48 of the Constitution, in light of the Supreme Court’s Mustafa Impex judgment.
In addition, Advocate Hamid Khan and the Advocate General of Punjab presented their legal submissions. Justice Mazhar noted that the real parties affected by this case are the judges themselves and pointed out inconsistencies in the positions taken by various petitioners.
Moreover, the bench is expected to hear further arguments from the lawyer representing PTI’s founder, Idrees Ashraf, as well as the Attorney General. These discussions are likely to provide more clarity on the legal implications of judicial transfers.
The Supreme Court has adjourned the case until 9:30 AM tomorrow, allowing all parties more time to present their complete arguments before a final decision is made.