PHOTO: AFP/FILE
ISLAMABAD: Justice Munib Akhtar of the Sindh High Court has been appointed as a judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, according to a notification issued by the law ministry in Islamabad.
President Mamnoon Hussain confirmed the appointment of Akhtar as a judge in the top court of the country in the notification issued on Saturday.
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Interestingly, Justice Akhtar is fourth on the seniority list of SHC judges. Although it is rare for judges lacking seniority to be elevated, there are notable exceptions, including two currently on the SC. Former CJP Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry had elevated incumbent CJP Mian Saqib Nisar and Justice Asif Saeed Khosa ahead of former Lahore High Court CJ Khawaja Muhammad Sharif.
Earlier, Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar had proposed the elevation of Sindh High Court Justice Munib Akhtar as a judge of the Supreme Court.
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Sources revealed to The Express Tribune that the CJP has summoned a meeting of the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) on April 5 to consider the elevation.
One seat in the apex court fell vacant after the retirement of Justice Dost Muhammad Khan earlier this week. Justice Akhtar is now in line to become chief justice of Pakistan after the retirement of Justice Mansoor Ali Shah in 2027.
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