PPP eyes larger role in judicial appointments

Farooq H Naek pitches 33 names for judgeship

ISLAMABAD:

As Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi has convened meetings of the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) to consider appointments of additional judges to the high courts, PPP Senator Farooq H Naek has proposed 33 candidates for appointment to the four high courts.

This move has revived debate over the party's growing influence in judicial appointments following the 26th Constitutional Amendment, with some asking if the PPP will once again secure a significant share in the upcoming judicial appointments, as it has done in recent appointments to the superior judiciary after the constitutional changes.

During the tenure of former CJP Abdul Hameed Dogar, the PPP succeeded in securing the appointment of several lawyers considered loyal to the party in the superior judiciary. However, many of those appointments were invalidated through the SC's July 31, 2009 judgment.

Following the restoration of the judiciary in March 2009, the PPP remained at the receiving end of judicial activism. However, after the passage of the 26th Constitutional Amendment, the party has again emerged as an influential player in the process of judicial appointments.

The Sindh High Court (SHC) remains the only high court with constitutional benches.

In November 2024, the PPP successfully backed the nomination of Justice KK Agha as head of the constitutional benches in the SHC through the JCP. Eight judges senior to Justice Agha were bypassed, although he ranked ninth on the SHC seniority list.

The PPP also played a key role in the nomination of other members of the SHC constitutional benches. Last year, the party also succeeded in securing the appointment of judges in different high courts, particularly the SHC, Peshawar High Court (PHC) and Lahore High Court (LHC).

Following the 27th Constitutional Amendment, Justice KK Agha was elevated to the newly established Federal Constitutional Court (FCC). Now, with the JCP inviting nominations for fresh appointments to the high courts, PPP's senior legal leader and JCP member Farooq H Naek has submitted 33 names for consideration.

Of the proposed names, 16 are for the SHC, 10 for the LHC, five for the Balochistan High Court (BHC) and two for the Islamabad High Court (IHC).

For the SHC, Naek has proposed the names of Dr Ambreen (district and sessions judge, Karachi West), Ghulam Shah (district and sessions judge, Hyderabad), Shazia Hanjrah (advocate Supreme Court), Mohsin Shahwani, Barrister Zulfiqar Jalbani (ASC), Barrister Jamshed Malik (ASC), Barrister Sandeep Malani, Nasrullah Korai (ASC), Qazi Muhammad Bashir (ASC), Dr Shahnawaz Memon (ASC), Samiullah Soomro (ASC), Barrister Baloch Ahmed Junejo (ASC), Ali Raza Khan (ASC), Mukesh Kumar G Karara, Ali Gul Abbasi and Muhammad Rashid Khan Mahar (ASC).

For the LHC, Naek has recommended Asad Mahmood Abbasi, Danyal Ijaz, Nawazish Pirzada, Saqib Jillani, Ashfaq Ahmed Kharal, Mian Wasim Shahabi, Muhammad Sajid Khan Tanoli, Mughees Aslam Malik, Chaudhry Sarfaraz Ali Deyal and Muhammad Shahzad Khan.

For the BHC, the proposed names are Rehmatullah, Syed Yahoor Agha, Bairam Khan, Naseer Ahmed Bangulzai and Muhammad Saleem Lashari. For the IHC, Naek has nominated Qamar Hussain Sabzwari and Syed Intikhab Shah.

The JCP is scheduled to meet on July 20 to consider appointments to the IHC, while the meeting for appointments to the LHC will be held on July 21.