ISLAMABAD:
The Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) has by majority vote approved the confirmation of three additional judges – Inaam Ameen Minhas, Muhammad Asif and Muhammad Azam Khan – as permanent judges of the Islamabad High Court (IHC).
The commission also approved, by majority, the confirmation of Justice Najam-ud-Din Mengal as permanent judge of the Balochistan High Court (BHC). However, he has not confirmed the services of Justice Muhammad Ayub Khan, who is no longer serving as a BHC judge.
Three JCP meetings were held on Monday under the chairmanship of Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi, with various compositions, in the conference hall of the Supreme Court building.
The meetings were convened to deliberate on key institutional and policy issues, as well as make recommendations for the confirmation of additional IHC and BHC judges.
In the first meeting, the central commission constituted under Article 175A (2) of the Constitution examined issues relating to the criteria for appointment of judges to the constitutional benches of the high courts.
It also carefully examined the procedure for interviewing candidates for judicial appointments and the amendment to the JCP (Appointment of Judges) Regulations 2024, relating to appointments to the Federal Constitutional Court (FCC).
After deliberations, the commission authorized the committee to examine these matters in detail and submit recommendations to it on the interview procedure and amendments to the rules, ensuring effective and transparent implementation of the constitutional framework.
The committee headed by Justice Aamer Farooq will review the issues and formulate the rules.
At the second meeting, the commission considered the confirmation of three additional IHC judges. Sources said that during the deliberations on Justice Asif’s confirmation, the road accident in which his son ran over two girls in Islamabad in December 2025 with his car was also discussed.
IHC Chief Justice Sarfaraz Dogar briefed the commission members about the incident. Sources said IHC Chief Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani appreciated the fact that Justice Muhammad Asif did not use his office or position to influence any official to get relief for his son.
In the third meeting, opposition was registered to the permanent appointment of Justice Muhammad Ayub Khan to the BHC. Sources said two PTI-affiliated PCJ members, Advocate Gohar and Advocate Ali Zafar, did not attend the meeting.
On the other hand, Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) president Haroon-ur-Rashid, along with members of his cabinet, inaugurated the Litigator and Advocate-Official Facilitation Center (AOR) in the SC premises. The ceremony was held in the presence of CJP Afridi and other SC judges.
The newly established center was set up to provide structured facilitation to registered advocates, enabling them to effectively guide and assist litigants in matters relating to procedural requirements, case presentation, documentation and other ancillary matters.
The initiative is a citizen-focused, one-stop-shop, walk-in service designed according to a people-first service delivery model that aims to improve institutional responsiveness and the overall experience of litigants in the SC.
The Facilitation Center for Official Lawyers and Trial Lawyers is expected to serve as an effective interface between litigants, lawyers and the judicial administration, thereby contributing to a more responsive, transparent and efficient judicial sector, according to a statement.
