SC takes exception to judiciary criticism, asks Khosa to be very careful

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) on Friday took exception to a speech of former president Supreme Court Bar Association Hamid Khan, criticising the appointments being made to the superior judiciary by ignoring the principle of seniority.

Justice Umer Ata Bandial, heading a three-member SC bench, during a hearing, asked Sardar Latif Khan Khosa who was contesting the upcoming Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) elections from the Hamid Khan group for the slot of president, as recently in his presence [Khosa], the judiciary was criticised.

“You are a senior lawyer and always keep the respect of judiciary in high esteem, but in your presence the judiciary was criticised,” Justice Bandial asked Latif Khosa. He told him to be very much careful whenever such a speech is made in his presence.

Sardar Khosa assured the court that he always held the dignity of court in high esteem and believed that the honour of both the bench and bar were dependent on each other. Sardar Khosa is the candidate of the Hamid Khan group for the slot of president for the upcoming SCBA elections. Hamid Khan, during a function held at the Lahore Bar recently in connection with the election campaign for Latif Khosa, came down hard on the judiciary regarding the appointments of judges to the superior judiciary.