Ad-hoc appointments: Asma voices reservations against ‘recycling’ judges

Asma expressed reservations over JCP's decision to reappoint two retired SC justices as ad-hoc judges

ISLAMABAD:

Asma Jahangir, a former president of the Supreme Court Bar Association, has called for appointing senior lawyers as judges in the apex court instead for calling retired judges.

While talking to the media outside the Supreme Court on Saturday, she expressed these reservations over the Judicial Commission of Pakistan’s (JCP) decision to reappoint two retired Supreme Court justices as ad-hoc judges.

“If the Supreme Court is finding it difficult to elevate high court judges [to the Supreme Court], then they can always opt for people from the bar,” the prominent human rights activist said. “[But] do not recycle retired judges in the Supreme Court.”

Media reports suggest the JCP in its meeting on December 3, may consider elevating two retired judges of the Supreme Court back into the apex court as ad-hoc judges for a one-year term.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 29^th, 2015.