Islamabad, February 16, 2025 – President Asif Ali Zardari administered the oath to Justice Sarfraz Dogar as the Acting Chief Justice of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) at a formal ceremony held at the Aiwan-e-Sadr on Friday.
The ceremony commenced with the playing of the national anthem, followed by a recitation from the Holy Quran. According to an official notification, President Zardari appointed Justice Dogar under Article 196 of the Constitution, and he will serve in this role until a permanent chief justice is appointed.
Judicial Appointments and Controversy
Justice Dogar’s appointment comes in the wake of Justice Aamer Farooq’s recent elevation to the Supreme Court (SC). Before assuming his role in the IHC, Justice Dogar was transferred from the Lahore High Court (LHC) and will serve in his new position on an interim basis.
Meanwhile, President Zardari also approved the elevation of seven judges to the Supreme Court, including:
- Justice Aamer Farooq
- Justice Muhammad Hashim Khan Kakar
- Justice Muhammad Shafi Siddiqui
- Justice Salahuddin Panhwar
- Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim
- Justice Shakeel Ahmad
- Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb
However, the decision has faced opposition from several IHC judges, including Justices Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, Babar Sattar, Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan, and Saman Rafat. These judges have reportedly decided to challenge the rejection of their representation, raising questions about the judicial selection process.
As the legal fraternity closely monitors these developments, the appointment of a permanent Chief Justice of IHC remains a key decision for Pakistan’s judicial system.
