President Zardari approves appointment of ad hoc judges to Supreme Court

President Asif Ali Zardari has approved the appointment of ad hoc judges to the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

According to a statement issued by the Presidency on Friday, the president gave his approval under Article 182 of the Constitution.

Following the president's approval, former Supreme Court judges Justice Sardar Tariq Masood and Justice Mazhar Alam Khan Miankhel will be appointed as ad hoc judges to the Supreme Court.

Despite severe criticism from a segment of lawyers and the PTI, the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) last week approved the nomination of two retired Supreme Court judges for appointment as ad hoc judges of the apex court for one year.

Also read: JCP nominates two ad hoc judges for SC

A JCP meeting was held on last Friday to consider the nominations of both retired judges, with Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa presiding.

By a majority vote of 8 to 1, the JCP approved the nomination of Justice (retired) Sardar Tariq Masood as an ad hoc judge of the apex court. The nomination of Justice (retired) Mazhar Alam Miankhel was approved by a majority of 6 to 3.