ISLAMABAD, Nov 14: Two judges of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) have signalled that they may not be available to continue hearing cases in the capital from next month, fuelling speculation about impending judicial transfers following the passage of the 27th Constitutional Amendment.
Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani made the remarks on Thursday while presiding over a case concerning a private company. When a lawyer requested the court to schedule final arguments for the first week of December, Justice Kayani responded that “another judge will be sitting here” at that time.
The unexpected remark caused visible concern, with the lawyer urging the judge “not to say things that make us uncomfortable.” Justice Kayani, however, repeated, “No problem, I am happy about it,” offering no further clarification.
Similarly, on Wednesday, Justice Saman Rafat Imtiaz hinted that her bench “may not be available from December” during the hearing of another case, after a counsel sought an adjournment until the following week.
The comments come against the backdrop of heightened uncertainty within the judiciary after the recently enacted 27th Amendment, which grants the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) authority to transfer high court judges without their consent. The amendment has drawn criticism from several judges and legal experts, who warn that involuntary transfers could undermine judicial independence and alter long-standing norms governing the superior judiciary.
According to sources, the transfers of high court judges are expected to take place in phases, with the IHC likely to be affected first. https://t.co/HBJtRb0bsh
— Dawn.com (@dawn_com) November 14, 2025
Justice Kayani and Justice Imtiaz were among a group of five IHC judges who earlier this year strongly opposed the transfer of the incumbent Chief Justice Sardar Mohammad Sarfraz Dogar to the Islamabad High Court, arguing that the move violated established procedures and judicial autonomy.
Sources familiar with deliberations inside the judiciary said multiple transfers are expected in phases, with the Islamabad High Court likely to experience the earliest changes. However, no official notification or schedule has been issued so far.
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Legal observers say the judges’ remarks, though indirect, reflect a sense of unease within the IHC as the judiciary braces for the first practical outcome of the constitutional amendment. Senior lawyers have warned that abrupt reshuffling could slow down case disposal and create uncertainty for litigants.
For now, both judges continue to hear pending cases, but Thursday’s and Wednesday’s statements have intensified speculation that significant changes to the judicial landscape may be imminent.
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