Islamabad, The Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) and other bar associations have threatened a boycott of all court proceedings if Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed doesn't postpone the elevation of Justice Ayesha A. Malik of the Lahore High Court to the Supreme Court.
The Judicial Commission of Pakistan was to hold a meeting on January 6. Justice Malik is the fourth in the seniority order of the Lahore High Court. If elected, she would become the first woman judge in Pakistan.
After a meeting held on Monday, PBC Vice Chairman Khushdil Khan and Executive Committee Chairman Muhammad Masood Chishti said in case the January 6 meeting was not axed, all bar associations would boycott all courts in the country, the Dawn reported on Tuesday.
Khan said the bar associations were not targeting Justice Malik for her gender.
“Our emphasis is only to the extent of respecting the seniority principle. Parliament should amend the Constitution and enhance the present strength of 17 judges in the Supreme Court by adding two or more women judges at the top," he said.
The nomination of Justice Malik violated the seniority principle, the lawyers said.