ISLAMABAD:
The Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) has sought nominations for the appointment of new high court judges, and the process of submitting names is open until July 4.
Sources told The Express PAkGazette 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 PCJ member can propose names for judicial appointments until July 4, while commission meetings are expected to be scheduled after a 15-day period. Sources said the meetings will likely take place in 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 growing executive dominance in the decision-making process.
Speaking to The Express PAkGazette, PTI senator Ali Zafar, also a JCP member, said party president Gohar Ali Khan ordered him not to attend the meeting. However, he said no reason was given for the directive.
“I think we should have attended this JCP meeting,” said Senator Ali Zafar.
There is a perception of a serious crisis in decision-making within the PTI due to internal differences over participation in constitutional and parliamentary bodies.
On the other hand, ruling coalition partners PML-N and PPP are said to have a dominant role in the commission’s decisions after the passage of the 26th Amendment.
Sources further said that more than three dozen judges have been 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 the executive’s influence on judicial appointments.
It is also recalled that the transfer of three IHC judges to other high courts was not stopped despite objections.
Senior lawyers argue that chief justices remain crucial in the appointment process of high court judges, particularly in ensuring institutional balance and independence.
During Friday’s PCJ meeting, the commission approved a seven-member committee to conduct interviews of nominees and recommended the appointment of high court judges. However, the PCJ adjourned the matter regarding formulation of rules to evaluate the performance of high court judges.
It resolved to seek written comments and suggestions from the chief justices and senior judges of all high courts, who are members of the commission, within seven days.
