JCP to deliberate on elevating Justice Baqar to SC

Judicial commission to also consider appointing Federal Shariat Court’s Judge Riaz Ahmad Khan as the court’s chief

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan Nasirul Mulk has summoned a meeting of the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) on January 28 to deliberate on the elevation of Sindh High Court (SHC) Chief Justice Maqbool Baqar to the apex court, as well as appointment of Justice Faisal Arab as new SHC CJ, sources told The Express Tribune.

Sources further said that the commission will consider whether senior most Judge Justice Faisal Arab should replace Justice Baqar as the new SHC CJ.

Justice Arab is currently heading the special court hearing the high treason case against former military ruler Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf.

Musharraf's lawyer Chaudhry Faisal Hussain said the elevation of Justice Arab will not restrict him from hearing the treason case.

At the moment, there are 16 judges serving in the apex court with one seat vacant. If elevated, Justice Baqar will serve in the apex court till April 2022.

New CJ for Federal Shariat Court

According to sources the commission will also consider the appointment Federal Shariat Court’s Judge Riaz Ahmad Khan as the court’s chief. Justice Riaz was appointed to the FSC judge in June 2014, after he had retired from the Islamabad High Court.

Earlier, Sardar Muhammad Raza Khan was serving as FSC’s CJ. But last month, he was appointed as the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC).