ISLAMABAD
Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) has recommended confirmation of eight judges of three high courts on Tuesday.
According to details, a JCP meeting, under the chairmanship of Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, was held in which eight judges from three high courts were approved for confirmation. After the five months boycott, Attorney General for Pakistan Irfan Qadir, Law Minister Ahmar Bilal Sufi and Pakistan Bar Council’s representative Yasin Azad participated in the commission’s meeting.
It is also learnt that Punjab Bar Council’s representative objected to the confirmation of one Lahore High Court judge, while the Sindh Bar Council representative opposed the confirmation of a Sindh High Court judge.
The commission recommended the confirmation of four Lahore High Court judges namely Justice Ch Muhammad Younus, Justice Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah, Justice Syed Muhammad Kazim Raza Shamsi, and Justice Malik Shahzad Ahmed Khaiba.
The JCP has also suggested the Sindh High Court’s three judges namely Justice Abdul Rasool Memon, Justice Naimatullah Pulpoto and Justice Sadiq Ali Bhatti. Islamabad High Court judge Justice Noorul Haq N Quraishi is also approved for confirmation.
The sources informed TheNation that on the start of the meeting, the CJP told the members that a special meeting of the JCP would be summoned soon to consider the Pakistan Bar Council’s proposed amendments in the commission.
It is worth mentioning that lawyers bodies had expressed reservations over the powers of the JCP chairman (the chief justice of Pakistan) and therefore has proposed amendments in the JCP rules 2010, seeking transfer of the chairman’s powers to the commission regarding the appointment of superior courts judges.
These proposed amendments in the commission’s rules have been unanimously passed by the PBC executive body on March 9, seeking amendments in rules 2, 3, 6 and 8 of the JCP, the PBC has demanded that the JCP secretary should be nominated by the commission. Presently, the JCP chairman (CJP) appoints the secretary of the commission and presently the Supreme Court registrar, Dr Faqir Hussain, is serving in his stead on the post.
Lawyers have also recommended that the JCP’s committee on any matter should not be constituted by the chairman but also by the commission. Regarding the relaxation of rules, apex body of the lawyers unanimously suggested that the whole commission and not just the chairman should have authority to relax strict application of these rules in the public interest. The PBC recommended that before initiating and sending proposed names of the judges to the commission, superior bars’ representatives in the JCP should be consulted and this consultation should be meaningful.