In a major development following the Supreme Court’s June 19 decision in the judges’ transfer case, President Asif Zardari has officially declared Justice Sarfraz Dogar as the senior-most judge of the Islamabad High Court (IHC).

Additionally, the transfers of Justice Dogar and two other judges have been made permanent.

This move comes as a continuation of the Supreme Court’s 3-2 verdict, which stated that the authority to finalise judicial transfers and determine seniority lies with the President.

Following the verdict, the Presidency has released a revised seniority list of IHC judges.

According to the updated list, Justice Sarfraz Dogar is now the top-ranking judge of the Islamabad High Court, followed by Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro at ninth and Justice Muhammad Asif at eleventh position.

Five IHC judges challenge the Supreme Court decision

Meanwhile, five sitting judges of the IHC — Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, Justice Babar Sattar, Justice Tariq Jahangiri, Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq, and Justice Saman Rafat Imtiaz — have filed an intra-court appeal in the Supreme Court against the June 19 ruling.

The appeal, filed through lawyer Munir A. Malik, argues that the verdict should be set aside and implementation stayed until a final decision is reached.

IHC judges file intra-court appeal against SC ruling on transfers, seniority

The Supreme Court had earlier upheld the judges’ transfers in a 3-2 majority verdict delivered by a five-member bench led by Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, with Justices Shahid Bilal and Salahuddin Panhwar forming the majority, while Justices Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Shakeel Ahmed dissented.

The court had ruled that Justice Sarfraz Dogar would continue to serve as acting Chief Justice of the IHC until the President finalises the matter.

The transfers of Justice Dogar, Justice Muhammad Asif, and Justice Soomro to the IHC had previously been contested by several senior judges, who claimed the moves violated constitutional norms and seniority principles.