ISLAMABAD: Supreme Court Bar Association of Pakistan (SCBAP) President Barrister Syed Ali Zafar welcomed and appreciated the resignation of Justice Iqbal Hameed-ur-Rehman as Judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
Through a press statement, he said that tendering his resignation has enhanced rather than lowered the esteem of the institution of the Supreme Court. Barrister Zafar said that the norms in our society should be that if a person has committed a mistake, then he should voluntarily make himself accountable by resignation. In this manner, the mistake can be forgiven and life moves on. Speaking about the judgment of the Supreme Court of Pakistan pertaining to the appointment of officers in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) Barrister Zafar said that after careful examination of the facts and the rules, the Supreme Court had come to a categorical conclusion that judges involved in the appointments have acted “in complete disregard of the mandate given by the Rules framed under Article 208 of the Constitution” and had been involved in “cherry picking by deliberately ignoring merits of the candidates.” Barrister Zafar said that these were very serious allegations and that upon reading the judgment, he had already commented that it was likely that all those involved would resign. In this context, Justice Hameed-ur-Rehman has taken the correct step. Barrister Zafar, however, highlighted the fact that the IHC Bar Association has taken very serious note of this matter and are calling upon the Chief Justice of the Islamabad High Court to resign as well. He stated that this has itself led to a very difficult situation, which is hindering the administration of justice.