ISLAMABAD – Justice Tariq Mahmood Jahangiri has moved the Supreme Court against an order of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) that stopped him from performing judicial duties. In his petition, he said the decision violates Article 10A of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to a fair trial and due process. He added that the order has harmed his reputation and caused irreparable damage to his standing as a judge.
Justice Jahangiri is not alone in his challenge. Four other IHC judges – Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, Justice Babar Sattar, Justice Saman Rifat, and Justice Ejaz Ishaq Khan – have also approached the Supreme Court. They argue that the IHC chief justice cannot use administrative powers to block judges from working or to alter benches at will. According to them, a judge can only be stopped from judicial work under Article 209, not by administrative orders.
The petitions further say that the IHC’s newly introduced Practice and Procedure Rules of 2025 were passed without full court approval and are therefore unconstitutional. The judges also reminded that the Supreme Court has already rejected the so-called “Master of Roster” doctrine, which concentrated powers in the office of the chief justice.
The outcome of these petitions is expected to be significant, as it will decide not only the position of the suspended judges but also set limits on how administrative authority can be exercised within the judiciary.