Reconsidering nominations: JCP seeks time to short-list more nominees

Dealys appointment of 14 LHC additional judges

ISLAMABAD: The Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) on Monday decided to delay the appointment of 14 additional judges of the Lahore High Court.

A meeting of JCP, held under the chairmanship of Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali, deliberated upon the list of nominees initiated by the LHC Chief Justice Mansoor Ali Shah for elevation as additional judges.

“In order to select the best out of best persons, some additional names may be added to the list of nominations already initiated by honourable chief justice of Lahore High Court. The matter was therefore, adjourned for November 3, 2016 to consider fresh nominations, as well as the list of nominees already submitted Chief Justice, Lahore High Court”, a statement issued stated.

In the first week of this month, Lahore High Court Chief Justice Mansoor Ali Shah intimated to the commission names of six district and sessions judges and 10 lawyers for appointments as 14 additional judges of the high court.

According to sources, the chief justice had sent pro forma to more than 250 lawyers in Punjab. Subsequently, more than three dozen lawyers were short-listed and were called in for interviews. After comprehensive scrutiny, 16 names were finalised for the commission to consider them for the appointment of additional judges.

Meanwhile, on October 15 representatives of superior bars in Punjab passed a resolution against the chief justice’s nominations for the new appointments. It is learnt that those lawyers, who have not been short-listed, are campaigning against the high court chief justice.

Advocate Chaudhry Faisal Hussain appreciated the superior judiciary‘s approach to select the best persons for the judges’ appointments. He however, believed that following the resolution passed by the lawyers it will be largely assumed that the decision was taken under the bar's pressure.

Meanwhile, the judicial body has proposed the confirmation of four Lahore High Court as well as three additional judges of Peshawar High Court. The commission has also recommended the name of Nazeer Ahmad Lango as new additional judge of the Balochistan High Court.

Sources informed that JCP recommended the confirmation of four LHC judges including Justice Khalid Mahmood Malik, Justice Mushtaq Ahmad, Justice Masood Abid Naqvi and Justice Chaudhry Muhammad Iqbal. The tenure of these judges will end on November 7.

Likewise, it has also suggested the confirmation of three PHC additional judges— Justice Muhammad Younas Thaheem, Justice Qalandar Ali Khan and Justice Muhammad Ghazanfar Jahan Khan.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 18^th, 2016.