JCP extends IHC judge’s tenure

ISLAMABAD: The Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) on Wednesday unanimously approved the confirmation of Islamabad High Court (IHC) Additional Judge Justice Athar Minallah. The IHC judge will now continue to serve in the position for another eight years.

Justice Minallah was appointed as an additional judge on the IHC in June 2014 for one year. He was given a one year extension in 2015, which would end next month. He has issued over 2,000 judgments in his tenure. The IHC currently has seven judges, but sources revealed that two of them are being looked into by the Supreme Judicial Council over allegations of misconduct.

Meanwhile, sources told The Express Tribune that the chief justice has called a special meeting of the commission on June 6 to consider proposed amendments in JCP Rules 2010.

On March 15, 2013, PBC submitted proposed amendments in the JCP rules seeking the transfer of discretionary powers regarding appointments of superior court judges from the chairman to the commission.

Seeking amendments in rules 2, 3, 6 and 8 of the JCP, the PBC has demanded that the JCP secretary should be nominated by the commission. The rules were not amended due to the pendency of 18th Amendment case.

Though the top court gave a verdict in the case last year, the rules have still not been amended.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 19^th, 2016.