Quetta: The Balochistan Bar Council (BBC) has formally challenged a controversial decision of the provincial government in the Balochistan High Court, opposing the grant of Justice of the Peace powers to administrative officers across the province.
The constitutional petition has been filed by Advocate Rahib Buladi, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Balochistan Bar Council, against Government of Balochistan Notification No. SO(JUDL-1)2(1)2025/2094–2125. Through this notification, the Provincial Home Department, invoking Section 22 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), 1898, appointed Divisional Commissioners, Additional Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners, Additional Deputy Commissioners, and Assistant Commissioners as Justices of the Peace within their respective jurisdictions.
According to the notification, these appointments take immediate effect, authorizing the designated officers to exercise powers under Sections 22-A and 22-B of the CrPC, which include issuing directions related to registration of FIRs and ensuring fair investigation. The notification also instructs the officers not to display any sign, sticker, or symbol identifying them as Justices of the Peace on official or private vehicles.
In the petition, the Balochistan Bar Council argued that assigning judicial functions to members of the executive is a direct violation of the doctrine of separation of powers and amounts to interference in the independence of the judiciary. The petition contends that the Balochistan High Court has already settled legal principles concerning the appointment and role of Justices of the Peace, and that similar attempts in the past—such as conferring judicial magistracy powers upon Tehsildars, were strongly opposed by the legal fraternity.
The Bar Council termed the notification an attack on the judicial system, warning that such measures undermine constitutional governance and the rule of law. As a protest, the Balochistan Bar Council announced a province-wide boycott of court proceedings, expressing solidarity with the judiciary.
Advocate Rahib Baloch stated that the move is unconstitutional and contrary to democratic principles, adding that interference in judicial affairs damages public confidence in the justice system and compromises fair access to justice.
Former Supreme Court Bar Association President Amanullah Kanrani praised the legal challenge, calling it a courageous step taken solely in the interest of judicial independence. He urged lawyers to rise above political divisions and unite to protect constitutional institutions.
Meanwhile, Najibuddin Agha, General Secretary of the Balochistan High Court Bar Association, demanded immediate withdrawal of the notification. He warned that granting judicial powers to administrative officers would paralyse the existing judicial framework, create a parallel system, and cause widespread unrest among lawyers and litigants across Balochistan.
