ISLAMABAD:
The Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) has invited applications for the appointment of new High Court judges, with the process of submitting names open until July 4.
Sources told The Express PK Press Club that the commission is considering appointing 10 judges to the Lahore High Court, five to the Sindh High Court, five to the Balochistan High Court and three to the Islamabad High Court.
Under the new rules, each JCP member can propose names for judicial appointments until July 4, while commission meetings should be scheduled after a 15-day period. Sources said the meetings were likely to take place during the third week of July.
Meanwhile, two opposition PTI members boycotted Friday’s JCP meeting where rules regarding the appointment of judges were approved, citing concerns over what they described as increasing executive dominance in the decision-making process.
Speaking to The Express PK Press Club, PTI Senator Ali Zafar, also a member of the JCP, said party president Gohar Ali Khan had asked him not to attend the meeting. However, he said no reasons had been given for the directive.
“I think we should have attended this JCP meeting,” said Senator Ali Zafar.
There is a feeling within the PTI of a serious decision-making crisis due to internal differences over participation in constitutional and parliamentary bodies.
On the other hand, the ruling coalition partners PML-N and PPP would have a dominant role in the commission’s decisions following the adoption of the 26th Amendment.
Sources further said that more than three dozen judges were confirmed in various high courts during the tenure of Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi.
However, legal observers note that the chief justice has not developed a clear strategy to reduce executive influence in judicial appointments.
It should also be recalled that the transfer of three IHC judges to other high courts was not stopped despite objections.
Senior lawyers argue that the Chief Justices of the High Courts remain essential in the process of appointing superior court judges, particularly in ensuring balance and institutional independence.
At Friday’s JCP meeting, the committee approved the creation of a seven-member committee to conduct interviews with candidates and recommended the appointment of High Court judges. However, the JCP deferred the issue regarding formulation of rules to evaluate the performance of high court judges.
It has been decided to seek written comments and suggestions from the chief justices and senior-most judges of all high courts, who are members of the commission, within seven days.
