Judicial committee : Issue of chairmanship to be decided soon

ISLAMABAD: The newly-formed parliamentary committee on judges’ appointment started deliberations on its terms of reference and approved some rules for the functioning of the body on Monday.

Nayyar Bukhari, who presided over Monday’s meeting, said the issue of the committee’s chairmanship will be decided soon.

Two members belonging to Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid, Senator Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and MNA Ghos Bux Mehar tabled a proposal that instead of a permanent chairman, the committee should be headed by all members on a rotational basis.

PML-Q members were of the view that a chairman should be elected for one agenda item and once that item is finalised another chairman should be elected for the new agenda. The proposal, though discussed in detail, could not be finalised. Nayyar Bukhari who presided over the first meeting left the issue for the next meeting on Wednesday as Ishaq Dar of PML-N could not attend Monday’s meeting.

Bukhari, after the meeting, told reporters that the committee would function above party lines and decide on recommendations coming in from the judicial commission within 14 days. He said in its next meeting, the committee will finalise all its rules and resolve the issue of chairmanship.

Under the 18th amendment an eight-member parliamentary committee of both Houses of parliament, with equal representation from government and opposition benches, would have a final say on the recommendations of the judicial commission for the appointment of judges in the superior courts.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 23^rd, 2010.