Advocate Akhtar Hussain has resigned from the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP), citing ongoing controversies over judicial appointments.
On Monday, Advocate Akhtar Hussain resigned as a Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) member, citing the ongoing controversies surrounding judicial appointments. Hussain, a senior Supreme Court (SC) advocate, stated that the current debates and issues regarding judicial transfers and appointments made it impossible for him to continue in the role.
The JCP, responsible for approving judicial appointments, underwent a significant reconstitution following the passage of the 26th Constitutional Amendment in October last year. Under this amendment, the JCP now includes four members from the parliament, further complicating the dynamics of the appointment process.
The controversy escalated on February 14, when six Supreme Court judges were sworn in after being nominated by the JCP. However, two Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party members boycotted the meeting to protest the ongoing debate over the transfer of judges to the Islamabad High Court (IHC). The debate centres on the alteration of the seniority list, which has become a point of contention after recent appointments.
Read: Islamabad High Court Judges Challenge Seniority List After Judicial Transfers
In his resignation letter dated February 21, Advocate Hussain explained that he found it impossible to continue in the JCP role due to the controversies surrounding judicial appointments. He also reflected on his tenure as a member, noting that the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) had unanimously nominated him for the position three times and had worked diligently to fulfil his duties.
Despite resigning, Hussain expressed his continued commitment to the development and independence of Pakistan’s judicial and democratic institutions. He also sent a copy of his resignation letter to the PBC, urging them to nominate a new member for the JCP role.
