The Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) has approved the transfer of three judges from the Islamabad High Court to other provincial high courts, following a meeting chaired by Chief Justice Yahya Afridi at the Supreme Court.
According to an official statement, Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kiani will move to the Lahore High Court, Justice Babar Sattar to the Peshawar High Court, and Justice Saman Rafat Imtiaz to the Sindh High Court. The decision was made through a majority vote.
The commission also decided that any vacancies created by these transfers would be filled through further internal reshuffling rather than new appointments, signaling a focus on redistribution within the judiciary.
Some proposed transfers, including those of Justice Arbab M. Tahir and Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro, were withdrawn during the session.
These changes come after the 27th Amendment to the Constitution of Pakistan, which allows judicial transfers without a judge’s consent. Previously, such moves required approval from the judge concerned.
Chief Justice Afridi had earlier cautioned that excessive transfers without timely replacements could disrupt judicial stability. Meanwhile, discussions continue over appointing new judges to the Islamabad High Court.
