JCP meeting: Three former SHC judges likely to be reappointed

JCP will consider appointment of 10 additional SHC judges on Oct 10

ISLAMABAD: Six years after they were sacked by the Supreme Court, three former Sindh High Court (SHC) judges are expected to be reappointed at a meeting of the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) later this month.

Sources revealed that Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali has summoned a JCP meeting on October 10 to consider the appointment of 10 additional judges for SHC. The commission will also consider confirmation of 14 additional judges for the Lahore High Court.

Sources said SHC Chief Justice Faisal Arab has initiated 10 names, including  KK Agha, Sheikh Khadim Hussain and Muhammad Iqbal Mahr – three judges who were sacked by the Supreme Court in July 31, 2009. These judges were appointed on the recommendation of ‘de facto’ chief justice Abdul Hameed Dogar.

Sources said this is the second time the reappointment of KK Agha has been reconsidered. Earlier, the process was deferred when the JCP learnt that Agha possessed British nationality.

Unlike lawmakers, there is no constitutional provision that bars a dual national from assuming top judicial positions. Lawmakers, however, have repeatedly demanded legislation to prevent dual nationals from becoming a judge.

A JCP member said nobody can question the integrity, competency and honesty of KK Agha.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 4^th, 2015.