Appoints Justice Zafar Rajput and Justice Kamran Mullakhel as Chief Justices of Sindh High Court, Balochistan respectively
The Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) on Tuesday recommended by majority opinion the appointment of Justice Mian Gul Hassan Aurangzeb as a permanent judge of the Supreme Court, according to an official statement.
The meeting, held under the chairmanship of Chief Justice of Pakistan and Chairman of the Judicial Commission, Justice Yahya Afridi, also unanimously recommended Justice Zafar Ahmed Rajput as Chief Justice of Sindh High Court and Justice Muhammad Kamran Khan Mullakhel as Chief Justice of Balochistan High Court.
Justice Aurangzeb is currently serving as an Acting Judge of the Supreme Court. Sources said names of three senior judges were considered for permanent appointment to the Supreme Court: Justice Sarfraz Dogar, Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani and Justice Mian Gul Hassan Aurangzeb.
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For the post of Sindh High Court chief justice, the commission considered three senior judges: Justice Zafar Ahmed Rajput, currently serving as acting chief justice; Justice Iqbal Kalhoro; and Justice Mahmood Khan.
Justice Muhammad Kamran Mullakhel is currently appointed as Acting Chief Justice of Balochistan High Court.
The JCP also formed a five-member committee by majority opinion to formulate rules, the statement said. The rules committee includes Federal Constitutional Court judge Aamir Farooq, Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan, Senator Farooq Naek, senior lawyers Ali Zafar and Ahsan Bhoon.
Additionally, a committee of judges was formed to finalize the rules of the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC), headed by Justice Jamal Mandokhail. Justice Hassan Azhar Rizvi and Lahore High Court Judge Aalia Neelum also participated as members of the committee, sources said. The committee will make recommendations to the council on amendments to SJC rules.
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This is the first formal meeting of the JCP on appointments to the higher judiciary after the 27th Amendment to the Constitution of Pakistan. On November 18, three judicial forums were reconstituted under the amendment, including the JCP, the SJC and the Practice and Procedure Act (PAPA) committee under the SC.
The PCJ is the constitutional body that retains the power to elevate judges to higher courts. The SJC, for its part, hears complaints filed against superior court judges for alleged misconduct. The PAPA committee of the SC forms tribunals and lists cases.
