Service tenures: Federation decides to file presidential reference

Supreme Court adjourns hearing for two weeks on AG's request.

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court adjourned the hearing on high court judges for a fortnight following federation's decision to file a presidential reference in the judges' appointment case, Express News reported on Friday.

Justice Khilji Arif Hussain was heading the four-member bench hearing petitions pertaining to making Shaukhat Siddiqui a permanent judge, extending the tenure of Justice Noorul Haq for six months and appointing a chief justice for the Islamabad High Court (IHC).

Attorney General Irfan Qadir, submitting the federation’s reply, stating that President Asif Ali Zardari could not be reached on Thursday, but added that he did meet the law minister.

Qadir said that the president, in order to get judicial guidance on the matter, has decided to file a reference.

He then requested for adjourning the hearing for a fortnight which the court granted.

Earlier, the apex court declared that the composition of the judicial commission was in fact legal and could not be questioned by the president’s office to quash their service tenure extensions.