Islamabad: Justice Sarfaraz Dogar took oath as Acting Chief Justice of Islamabad High Court, President Asif Ali Zardari administered oath to Justice Sarfaraz Dogar.
The oath-taking ceremony was held at the Presidency, after the oath of the Supreme Court judges, the Acting Chief Justice was taken.
Under Article 194, earlier the President used to take the oath only of the Chief Justice, but after the 26th Amendment, now the President took the oath of the Chief Justice of Islamabad High Court, while the oath of the Chief Justice of other High Courts will be taken by the Governor.
It should be noted that Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan’s position on the issue of seniority of Acting Chief Justice Islamabad High Court Sarfaraz Dogar was opposite to that of the Chief Justice of Pakistan.
Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan said in writing that he did not agree with the reservations of Chairman Judicial Commission Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi, the transfer of a judge from the High Court is not temporary, the transfer was done in the public interest, for which the President and the concerned Chief Justice of the High Court were consulted.
Justice Sarfaraz Dogar was asked to express his consent in the public interest, the judge consented to the transfer in the public interest and not for personal interest, Justice Sarfaraz Dogar’s seniority cannot be made the lowest.
The Attorney General said that the rules of civil servant employees related to seniority cannot be applied to judges, judges of the higher judiciary are not civil servants, the Constitution of Pakistan has set separate terms and conditions for them.
