Judicial Commission of Pakistan picks Justice Aurangzeb as SC judge

Names Justice Zafar Rajput, Justice Kamran Mullakhel as Sindh, Balochistan high court chief justices, respectively

The Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) on Tuesday recommended the appointment of Justice Mian Gul Hassan Aurangzeb as a permanent judge of the Supreme Court by majority opinion, according to an official statement.

The meeting, held under the chairmanship of Chief Justice of Pakistan and Chairman Judicial Commission Justice Yahya Afridi, also unanimously recommended Justice Zafar Ahmed Rajput as Chief Justice of Sindh High Court and Justice Muhammad Kamran Khan Mullakhel as Chief Justice of Balochistan High Court.

Justice Aurangzeb is currently performing duties as acting judge of the Supreme Court. Sources said three senior judges' names were considered for the permanent Supreme Court appointment – Justice Sarfraz Dogar, Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, and Justice Mian Gul Hassan Aurangzeb.

Read: Judicial Commission to hold first formal meeting on Dec 2

For the Sindh High Court chief justice position, the commission considered three senior judges: Justice Zafar Ahmed Rajput, who is currently serving as acting chief justice; Justice Iqbal Kalhoro; and Justice Mahmood Khan.

Justice Muhammad Kamran Mullakhel is currently appointed as acting Chief Justice of Balochistan High Court.

The JCP also formed a five-member committee by majority opinion to formulate rules, according to the statement. The rules committee includes Federal Constitutional Court judge Justice Aamir Farooq, Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan, Senator Farooq Naek, senior lawyers Ali Zafar, and Ahsan Bhoon.

Additionally, a judges committee was formed to finalise the rules of the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC), headed by Justice Jamal Mandokhail. Justice Hassan Azhar Rizvi and Chief Justice Lahore High Court Justice Aalia Neelum also participated as members of the committee, sources said. The committee will give recommendations to the council regarding amendments in SJC rules.

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This is the first formal meeting of the JCP concerning appointments to the superior judiciary after the 27th Amendment to the Constitution of Pakistan. On November 18, three judicial forums were reconstituted under the amendment, including the JCP, the SJC, and the Practice and Procedure Act (PAPA) committee under the SC.

The JCP is the constitutional body that retains the power to elevate judges to superior courts. The SJC, on the other hand, hears complaints filed against judges of superior courts in light of alleged misconduct. The PAPA committee of the SC forms benches and lists cases.