Legal expert Reema Omer dismisses conspiracy claims around SC judges’ appointments
Legal expert Reema Omer has rejected claims that the current composition of the Supreme Court (SC) reflects a conspiracy to appoint pro-PTI judges. In a series of posts on X, she countered the government’s narrative, which suggests that former ISI chief General (retd) Faiz Hamid and ex-CJPs Saqib Nisar, Asif Saeed Khosa, Gulzar Ahmed, and Umar Ata Bandial orchestrated the appointment of these judges in a bid to “capture” the judiciary. Omer called this narrative a “complete fabrication.”
Omer further analyzed the current SC judges, highlighting their appointments and inclinations. Out of 17 judges, she pointed out that three were appointed by ex-CJP Nisar, including Justices Munib Akhtar, Mansoor Ali Shah, and current CJP Yahya Afridi. Justice Shah, once favored by the PTI, fell out of favor with them due to his role in key verdicts, while Afridi is trusted by the current government.
Additionally, three judges were appointed by ex-CJP Gulzar, including Justices Ayesha Malik, Muhammad Ali Mazhar, and Jamal Khan Mandokhail. Omer noted that Justice Mandokhail was viewed favorably by the government, while Justice Mazhar is known for upholding decisions that hurt the PTI.
Omer also noted that several other judges, appointed by former CJP Bandial, including Justice Athar Minallah, have no clear bias towards PTI, with Justice Minallah even being an outspoken critic of Bandial. The government holds a positive view of Justice Musarrat Hilali, while Justices Shahid Waheed and Hasan Azhar Rizvi were appointed with PML-N backing.
Furthermore, Omer highlighted that a significant number of current judges were appointed during the tenure of ex-CJP Isa, yet the current government has distanced itself from some of these judges, raising questions about whether they were part of the supposed “Faiz group.”
Omer concluded by criticizing the government’s narrative that the elevation of junior judges to the SC was part of a plot to populate the court with pro-PTI judges. She argued that judges who rule against the government’s preferences are labeled as pro-PTI, and this “conspiracy” theory is used to legitimize attempts at judicial capture.
