Superior judiciary: Procedural flaw in judges’ induction to be discussed

Parliamentary panel invites SCBA president to discuss 14 point agenda

ISLAMABAD: The Parliamentary Committee (PC) on judges’ appointment has invited the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) president on Tuesday, to deliberate upon the flaws in the procedure of appointment of judges.

SCBA president Ali Zafar told The Express Tribune that he received a letter on Monday, wherein he is invited to hold meeting with the committee’s members regarding his proposals for making the Parliamentary Committee on judges’ appointment more effective.

Last month, Ali Zafar sent draft proposals to the members of committee, seeking amendments in the procedure for appointment of superior court judges.

Copies of the draft proposals were sent to a former chairman of the Senate, Farooq H. Naek, Senators Javed Abbasi and Ilyas Ahmed Bilour, and MNAs Chaudhry Mahmood Bashir Virk and Mohammad Arshad Khan Leghari, the other members of PC.

In response to the SCBA president’s proposals, the PC has invited him to hold meeting on a 14-point agenda on Tuesday (today)

According to the agenda, the committee will discuss with SCBA president  his proposal in the amendment of Article 175-A, because the committee wants to ensure that  more transparent, fair and robust processes for  judges’ appointments are put in place, to ensure that only the most capable candidates are selected.

The committee will also deliberate upon the proposal in amendments to Article 175A regarding increasing the strength of the Judicial Commission by including an ex officio officer, a representative of the Supreme Court Bar Association as well as the proceedings of the Judicial Commission should be made public like the judgments of the courts. Likewise, the reasons for acceptance or rejection by a Judicial Commission should be recorded.

During the meeting, the committee members will also discuss how the role of the PC could be more effective. For sake of transparency, the proceedings of the Parliamentary Committee should also be made public, says the executive summary of agenda.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 5^th, 2016.