Crucial JCP meeting today

Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi has called the second meeting of the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) on Friday (today) to mull over the names for the establishment of constitutional benches in the high courts.

The session will be chaired by the top judge and is scheduled to be held at 2pm at the Supreme Court.

The meeting comes shortly after the swift implementation of the 26th Constitutional Amendment, which has paved the way for the formation of constitutional benches.

Earlier this week, the JCP appointed Justice Aminuddin Khan as head of the seven-judge constitutional bench by a majority vote of seven to five, with the top judge among the dissenting members.

Thirteen members, including Justice Aminuddin Khan will attend today's meeting.

Sources indicated that the JCP would focus on the nomination of judges for the establishment of constitutional benches in the Sindh High Court.

Others who will participate in the session include Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Munib Akhtar, Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar and Pakistan Council representative Akhtar Hussain.

Omar Ayub, Shibli Faraz, senior lawyer Farooq H Naek, Sheikh Aftab Ahmed, Roshan Khurshid, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhel and Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan will also attend the JCP moot.

Meanwhile, the CJP will also chair a meeting of the Supreme Judicial Council at 11am today.