The Lahore High Court Bar Association and the Lahore Bar Council on Wednesday filed intra-court appeals challenging the constitutional bench’s June 19, 2025, verdict on the transfer and seniority of Islamabad High Court judges.

The appeals argue that the decision is contrary to the constitution, established judicial precedents, and settled legal principles.

The ruling, issued by a five-member bench headed by Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, had declared the transfer of three judges to the Islamabad High Court as constitutional and lawful.

The bench, by a 3-2 majority, dismissed the petitions filed by the affected judges.

The verdict stated that under article 200 of the constitution, the president holds the authority to transfer judges, and such transfers are distinct from judicial appointments.

The petitioning bar bodies contend that the Supreme Court bench overlooked the established constitutional procedure for determining judicial seniority and that the directive issued to the president regarding judges’ seniority exceeded constitutional limits.

They have requested the court to nullify the June 19 decision and suspend its implementation — including all actions taken under it — until the appeals are decided.

Following the Supreme Court’s ruling, the president on June 29 declared Justice Sarfraz Dogar the most senior judge of the Islamabad High Court and confirmed the permanent transfers of him and two other judges.

Subsequently, on July 1, under the chairmanship of Chief Justice Yahya Afridi, the Judicial Commission of Pakistan approved the appointment of Justice Sarfraz Dogar as Chief Justice of the Islamabad High Court, Justice Junaid Ghaffar as Chief Justice of the Sindh High Court, Justice Atiq Shah as Chief Justice of the Peshawar High Court, and Justice Rozi Khan as Chief Justice of the Balochistan High Court.

The Ministry of Law formally issued notifications for these appointments on July 7, and all four newly appointed chief justices took the oath of office on July 8.

The issue has now returned to the centre of constitutional debate, with the Supreme Court expected to hear the intra-court appeals in the coming days.

The proceedings are likely to once again bring into focus the constitutional boundaries concerning judicial transfers, seniority, and appointments in Pakistan’s higher judiciary.