Pakistan Lawyers Launch Nationwide Movement Against 'Horse Trading' in Judge Appointments

Pakistan's legal community is in an uproar, with the Lawyers Action Committee (LAC) on Saturday launching a nationwide movement against what it calls the 'horrific' and 'horse trading' process of appointing judges to the country's high courts. Veteran lawyer Ali Ahmed Kurd, a prominent figure from the 2007 lawyers' movement, is leading this new campaign, aiming to mobilize the public and demand transparency in the justice system. The committee slammed the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) for allegedly allowing political loyalty and financial influence to dictate judicial selections, rather than merit. This brewing crisis is deeply rooted in the contentious 26th and 27th constitutional amendment, which critics argue have severely weakened judicial independence and subjected court appointments to executive and parliamentary control. The LAC resolution also sharply criticized the ongoing detention of prominent lawyers like Imaan Mazari and former Prime Minister Imran Khan, highlighting a broader crackdown on dissenting voices. Adding to the nation's woes, Balochistan continues to face a deteriorating security situation, marked by recent militant attacks in early July that led to dozens of deaths, prompting a large-scale counter-insurgency called 'Operation Shaban.' With the Islamabad High Court set to hear appeals for Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha on July 24, and the Supreme Court on July 21, the legal and political landscape remains highly charged. The LAC plans its first public meeting in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with an international program in London also on the cards to spotlight these issues globally. Meanwhile, the ongoing Babarlo sit-in in Sindh, protesting the disappearance of Priya Kumari and other children, has intensified, blocking a major national highway and further underscoring widespread public discontent.