JCP to discuss BHC judge’s elevation to SC

Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJ) Qazi Faez Isa has nominated Balochistan High Court (BHC) Chief Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan as a judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan. The Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) will consider this nomination at its upcoming meeting on February 23.

If appointed, Justice Afghan will be the third judge from Balochistan to serve in the Supreme Court, following CJ Isa himself and Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail.

After the premature retirement of two SC judges—Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi—last month, three positions are now vacant in the Supreme Court.

Though the total number of positions in the SC is 17, it currently has only 14 judges. SC’s Senior Puisne Judge Sardar Tariq Masood is also scheduled to retire next month, on March 10.

On Friday, February 23, the JCP will also discuss the elevation of Lahore High Court (LHC) senior judge Malik Shahzad Ahmad Khan to the position of the provincial high court’s chief justice.
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The incumbent chief justice of LHC, Justice Muhammad Ameer Bhatti, is set to retire on March 7. CJ Qazi Faez Isa, who also chairs the JCP, will preside over the upcoming meeting of the commission.