JCP seeks nominations for new HC judges

PTI lawmakers boycott commission's meeting over rules

ISLAMABAD:

The Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) has sought nominations for the appointment of new high court judges, with the process for submitting names open until July 04.

Sources told The Express Tribune that the commission is considering appointing 10 judges to the Lahore High Court, five to the Sindh High Court, five to the Balochistan High Court and three to the Islamabad High Court.

Under the new rules, each JCP member can propose names for judicial appointments until July 4, while commission meetings are expected to be scheduled after a 15-day period. Sources said the meetings will likely be held in the third week of July.

Meanwhile, two opposition members from the PTI boycotted Friday's JCP meeting where rules regarding judge appointments were approved, citing concerns over what they described as increasing executive dominance in the decision-making process.

Talking to The Express Tribune, PTI Senator Ali Zafar, also a JCP member, said the party chairman, Gohar Ali Khan, instructed him not to attend the meeting. However, he said no reason was given for the directive.

"I believe that we should have attended this JCP meeting," Senator Ali Zafar said.

A perception of a serious decision-making crisis exists within the PTI due to internal differences over participation in constitutional and parliamentary bodies.

On the other hand, ruling coalition partners the PML-N and the PPP are said to have a dominant role in the commission's decisions following the passage of the 26th Amendment.

Sources further said that more than three dozen judges have been confirmed in various high courts during Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi's tenure.

However, legal observers note that the chief justice has not evolved a clear strategy to reduce executive influence in judicial appointments.

It is also recalled that the transfer of three judges from the IHC to other high courts was not halted despite objections.

Senior lawyers maintain that high court chief justices remain crucial in the appointment process for superior court judges, particularly for ensuring balance and institutional independence.

During the JCP meeting on Friday, the commission approved a seven-member committee for conducting interviews of nominees and recommended the appointment of high court judges. However, the JCP deferred the matter regarding the formulation of rules for evaluating the performance of high court judges.

It resolved to seek written comments and suggestions from the chief justices and the most senior judges of all high courts—who are members of the commission—within seven days.