Confirmation of three BHC judges on agenda

CJP calls meeting of Judicial Commission of Pakistan on June 28

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan Saqib Nisar has summoned a meeting of Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) on June 28 to consider the confirmation of three Balochistan High Court judges, sources told The Express Tribune.

The commission will consider the confirmation of BHC judge Justice Zaheer ud Din Kakar, Justice Abdullah Baloch and Justice Nazeer Ahmad Langove, according to sources. These judges were appointed as additional judges in 2016.

At present, there are ten judges including the chief justice, working in BHC while five judges’ seats are vacant. It is also learnt that informal discussion is going on among top judges, regarding the new appointment of the Lahore High Court additional judges to formally present names of nominees to the commission.

Furthermore, reports from were also sought from intelligence agencies regarding the credentials of around two dozen lawyers. According to sources, eight names have been finalised, which would be presented to the JCP for consideration soon after Eid. However, some lawyers say that consensus is yet to be reached between LHC and SC judges for finalisation of the names.

The lawyers believe that the SC judges should not interfere in the initial process for proposing names to the JCP as it is in the jurisdiction of chief justice of high court to initiate names with consultation to the senior most judge.  However, the JCP members including SC judges may give their input during the commission’s meeting after names have formally been initiated.

At present, there are 47 judges working while the total strength is of 60. The legal experts are urging the superior judiciary to fill the vacant posts of judges as the LHC faces huge pending cases. In January, 147,633 cases were pending in the high court.

Similarly, there is also a need to increase the number of judges in the Islamabad High Court. There are six judges working in the IHC with one seat vacant while the pending cases are around 14,000. However, a senior official told The Express Tribune that the proposal has been given to increase the numbers from seven to ten IHC judges.

With regards to the Peshawar High Court, there are 19 judges working while Chief Justice Yahya Afridi will be elevated in the next couple of weeks. The total strength of PHC is 20. However, it is learnt that five to eight more judges’ seats will be vacant in the PHC after the merger of Fata with K-P. Moreover, 38 judges are working in Sindh High Court while two seats are still vacant.

The Supreme Court will also regain its full strength after the elevation of Justice Afridi. At present, 16 judges are working in the top court with one seat still vacant.