ISLAMABAD:
Although 12 names were approved for appointment as additional judges of the Sindh High Court, the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) missed the opportunity to appoint a first minority judge in the higher judiciary.
Since the 18th constitutional amendment in 2010, there is no judge from a minority community in the higher judiciary comprising the Supreme Court as well as five high courts.
However, it was hoped that the JCP would approve at least one candidate from a minority community as an additional judge of the Sindh High Court during the meeting.
Earlier, Sindh High Court Chief Justice Shafi Siddiqui had recommended two names from the minority community.
However, they were unable to get the required votes during the meeting. One of them received eight votes at the JCP meeting, falling one vote short of becoming an SHC judge.
Regarding the approval of 12 nominations for additional judges of the Sindh High Court, lawyer Salahuddin Ahmed said that the PPP had won the elections of judges of the Sindh High Court. “Future candidates for judicial office should take note of this rather than worrying about irrelevant considerations such as improving their professional qualifications,” he added.
On the rejection of two SHC candidates, Salahuddin Ahmed said finer considerations such as promoting diversity in the judiciary often have to be sacrificed in such hotly contested elections.
Lawyer Moiz Mirza Baig said that while the nominations approved by the PCJ include prominent lawyers like Osman Ali Hadi, Jaffer Raza and Advocate General Hassan Akbar; the exclusion of lawyers proposed by Sindh High Court Chief Justice and Justice Mansoor Ali Shah has renewed concerns over the appointment process following the 26th Amendment.
These concerns are reinforced by the fact that the judges appointed by the Chief Justice and Justice Shah include names like Umer Lakhani, Obaid Ur Rehman, Zeeshan Adhi, Zeeshan Abdullah, Umaima Mansoor and Atif Rafiq Chaudhary, all known for their integrity. and legal meaning.
Another lawyer based in Karachi says he has been practicing in the SHC for 25 years now and does not recognize at least half of them. Only three to four turn out good, he adds.
The JCP approved by majority the nominations of Tasneem Sultana DSJ, Khalid Shahwani DSJ, Osman Ali Hadi, Nisar Bhanbhro, Jaffer Raza, Hassan Akbar, Abdul Hamid Bhurgri, Jan Ali Junejo, Miran Muhammad Shah, Ali Haider Ada, Raiazat Ali Sahar and Fiaz. ul Hassan Shah.
