ISLAMABAD: In a rare move, Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, the most senior judge of the Supreme Court, has formally questioned the way the President of Pakistan determined the seniority of judges — without fulfilling the constitutional requirement of consultation with the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP).
In a letter addressed to the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) Secretary on June 30 — just ahead of the Commission’s scheduled meeting — Justice Mansoor expressed serious reservations about what he described as an “unilateral and premature” decision.
Citing Article 200 of the Constitution, Justice Mansoor emphasized that any move to fix the seniority of high court judges, especially in the Islamabad High Court, must involve meaningful consultation with the Chief Justice. He noted with concern that this was not done.
Justice Mansoor also reminded the Commission that this issue is still under judicial scrutiny, currently pending before the Supreme Court as part of an intra-court appeal — making the president’s action even more questionable.
The development has sparked fresh debate within legal and constitutional circles, particularly over the balance of powers between the executive and judiciary in appointments and promotions within the court system.
