Islamabad High Court: Justice Hameedur Rahman nominated as chief justice

ISLAMABAD: The Judicial Commission on Saturday nominated Justice Iqbal Hameedur Rahman from the Lahore High Court as chief justice of the Islamabad High Court (IHC).

Justice Iqbal Hameedur Rahman is the son of former chief justice of Pakistan Justice Hamoodur Rahman, who was appointed as a judge of the Supreme Court in 1960. Hamoodur Rahman was made the chairman of the commission set up to inquire about the fall of Dhaka and the role of the army at that time.

Justice Hameedur Rahman was one of the superior court judges, who had refused to take oath under the Provisional Constitution Order issued by General Pervez Musharraf after he introduced a state of emergency in November 2007. Rahman resumed work after Chief Justice of Pakistan  Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry was reinstated.

Apart from Justice Iqbal, the commission also voted in favour of Justice Riaz Ahmed Khan from the Peshawar High Court and Justice Anwar Kansi from the Balochistan High Court, as judges for the IHC. Law Minister Babar Awan had earlier said that the IHC will be operational from December 13th, sources said.

The commission’s meeting was chaired by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry. Justice Javed Iqbal, Justice Mian Shakirullah Jan, Justice (Rtd) Ch Ijaz, Law Minister Babar Awan, Attorney General for Pakistan Maulvi Anwarul Haq and Dr Khalid Ranjha were also present at the meeting.

The Judicial Commission recommended the extension of six additional judges from the Sindh High Court to the Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional Reforms. Those recommended are Justice Shahid Bajwa, Justice Ghulam Server, Justice Tufail H Ibrahim, Justice Irfan Saadat Khan, Justice Aqeel Ahmed and Justice Munib Akhtar.

The commission, however, refused to send the names of Justice Bhajen Das Tejwani and Justice Rukhsana Ahmed to the parliamentary committee. The name of Justice Ahmed Ali was also deferred until the next meeting of the Judicial Commission.

Three additional judges from the Balochistan High Court have also been suggested for a one year extension.  Justice Tahira Safdar, Justice Muhammad Noor Maskeen and Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhel were recommended, while another judge, Justice Ghulam Mustafa Mengal’s name was postponed to be discussed in the next meeting.

The Express Tribune has learnt that once the chief justice of the Islamabad High Court and two senior judges are appointed by the parliamentary committee, other judges for the IHC will be nominated in a new commission, under the chairmanship of the new chief justice of the court.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 5^th, 2010.