ISLAMABAD: The Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP), which appoints judges in the superior judiciary, on Monday nominated six high court judges for elevation to the Supreme Court, amid a protest by lawyer bodies in the federal capital of Islamabad.
The announcement of the nomination of judges came from the Supreme Court in a statement, days after four top court judges wrote to Chief Justice Yahya Afridi, who heads the JCP, to postpone Monday’s meeting of the commission and not decide on new judicial appointments until a challenge to the 26th constitutional amendment was decided.
Pakistan’s ruling coalition government passed the contentious amendment in October last year, amid resistance from opposition parties and lawyer bodies. The amendments empowered a parliamentary committee to appoint the Supreme Court’s chief justice for a fixed term of three years, and called for the creation of new group of senior judges to weigh exclusively on constitutional issues.
The government says the amendments are aimed at providing speedy justice to citizens and it is parliament’s right to pass laws it deems fit to ensure its sovereignty, but lawyer bodies protesting in Islamabad said the changes are aimed at undermining the judiciary’s independence.
“The commission, by majority of its total membership, nominated the following Hon’ble’ Judges for their appointment as Judges of the Supreme Court of Pakistan,” the top court said in a statement, naming Justice Muhammad Hashim Khan Kakar, Justice Muhammad Shafi Siddiqui, Justice Salahuddin Panhwar, Justice Shakeel Ahmad, Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim.
“The Commission also by majority of its total membership nominated Mr. Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb Judge, Islamabad High Court for appointment as the Acting Judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan.”
Meanwhile, lawyers gathered at various locations in Islamabad, leading to the blockade of multiple roads. The also protested President Asif Ali Zardari’s recent move to transfer three judges from the Sindh, Balochistan and Lahore high courts to the Islamabad High Court (IHC), alleging that it was “unconstitutional” as it undermined the seniority of the judges already serving in the IHC.
Footage shared online showed lawyers chanting slogans against the government and demanding independence of the judiciary. Local media reported deployment of heavy police contingent within the Supreme Court’s premises while entry points to the Red Zone, which houses the highest executive, judicial and legislative authority buildings of the country, were sealed to keep the protesters at bay.
“Our job is very clear and it is that we have to participate in this [protest] and present our stance,” Barrister Ali Zafar, a prominent lawyer, told reporters near Islamabad’s Red Zone area.
Zafar acknowledged that some lawyers were in favor of the judicial transfers and the constitutional amendments, acknowledging that a “division” existed among them.
“There is definitely a division among lawyers, some are on this side and some are on that side,” he said. “But you will see that this movement will keep on growing.”
The Islamabad police, however, assured residents it would ensure their safety despite the protests.
“Islamabad Police is actively working to ensure your safety and to ensure the establishment of law and order throughout the district,” they wrote on X.
Pakistan names six high court judges for elevation to top court amid lawyers’ protest
https://arab.news/pwunu
Pakistan names six high court judges for elevation to top court amid lawyers’ protest
- Announcement came days after four top court judges sought to postpone nominations until a challenge to 26th constitutional amendment was decided
- The government says the amendment is aimed at providing speedy justice, but lawyers protesting in Islamabad say it will undermine the judiciary
US freezes visa processing for 75 countries, media reports Pakistan included
- State Department announces indefinite pause on immigrant visas starting Jan 21
- Move underscores Trump’s hard-line immigration push despite close Pakistan-US ties
ISLAMABAD: The United States will pause immigrant visa processing for applicants from 75 countries starting Jan. 21, the State Department said on Wednesday, with Fox News and other media outlets reporting that Pakistan is among the countries affected by the indefinite suspension.
The move comes as the Trump administration presses ahead with a broad immigration crackdown, with Pakistan included among the affected countries despite strong ongoing diplomatic engagement between Islamabad and Washington on economic cooperation, regional diplomacy and security matters.
Fox News, citing an internal State Department memo, said US embassies had been instructed to refuse immigrant visas under existing law while Washington reassesses screening and vetting procedures. The report said the pause would apply indefinitely and covers countries across Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Europe and Latin America.
“The State Department will pause immigrant visa processing from 75 countries whose migrants take welfare from the American people at unacceptable rates. The freeze will remain active until the US can ensure that new immigrants will not extract wealth from the American people,” the Department of State said in a post on X.
According to Fox News and Pakistan news outlets like Dawn, the list of affected countries includes Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Nigeria, Russia, Somalia, Brazil and Thailand, among others.
“The suspension could delay travel, study, and work plans for thousands of Pakistanis who annually seek US visas. Pakistani consulates in the US are expected to provide guidance to affected applicants in the coming days,” Dawn reported.
A State Department spokesman declined comment when Arab News reached out via email to confirm if Pakistan was on the list.
The Department has not publicly released the full list of countries or clarified which visa categories would be affected, nor has it provided a timeline for when processing could resume.
Trump has made immigration enforcement a central pillar of his agenda since returning to office last year, reviving and expanding the use of the “public charge” provision of US immigration law to restrict entry by migrants deemed likely to rely on public benefits.
During his previous term as president, Trump imposed sweeping travel restrictions on several Muslim-majority countries, a policy widely referred to as a “Muslim ban,” which was challenged in US courts before a revised version was upheld by the Supreme Court. That policy was later rescinded under the President Joe Biden administration.
The latest visa freeze marks a renewed hardening of US immigration policy, raising uncertainty for migrants from affected countries as Washington reassesses its screening and vetting procedures.
The freeze on visas comes amid an intensifying crackdown on immigration enforcement by the Trump administration. In Minneapolis last week, a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent shot and killed 37-year-old Renee Good, a US citizen, during a federal operation, an incident that has drawn nationwide protests and scrutiny of ICE tactics. Family members and local officials have challenged the federal account of the shooting, even as Department of Homeland Security officials defended the agent’s actions. The case has prompted resignations by federal prosecutors and heightened debate over the conduct of immigration enforcement under the current administration.
