Judges’ Appointment: Parliamentary panel opts to await detailed SC verdict

PML-N members say the committee should wait for a detailed SC verdict before taking it up with parliament.

ISLAMABAD:

The parliamentary committee on judicial appointments should wait for a detailed verdict of the Supreme Court in the judges’ appointment case before taking it up in parliament, said PML-N members of the panel.

The Supreme Court had last month rejected the committee’s decision to disallow extension to six high court judges whose names were recommended by the judicial commission. The federation had moved a review petition which was also rejected by the apex court.

The 19th constitutional amendment had altered the procedure for appointment of judges of the higher judiciary in accordance with the directions of the Supreme Court. Under the current law, the final authority on appointment of judges rests with the parliamentary committee. In case the committee rejects any name proposed by the judicial commission, it is deemed as rejected permanently and the judicial commission cannot put up the same name again.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 23^rd, 2011.