Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi has called for the first meeting of the reconstituted Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) on November 5 to discuss the nomination of judges for constitutional benches in the Supreme Court.
This development occurred shortly after National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq nominated five individuals, including members from both houses of parliament and one woman, to the JCP.
The meeting, scheduled for 2 pm on Tuesday at the Supreme Court building, will focus on establishing the commission’s secretariat, nominating judges for the constitutional benches, and addressing other matters as permitted by the CJP.
The attendees will include CJP Afridi, Justices Syed Mansoor Ali Khan, Munib Akhtar, and Amin-ud-Din Khan, along with Senator Farooq Hamid Naek, MNA Sheikh Aftab Ahmad, Roshan Khursheed Bharucha, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, Attorney-General Mansoor Usman Awan, and other prominent legal and political figures.
Read: CJP Yahya Afridi Vows to Eliminate Executive Meddling in Judiciary
The commission, reshaped following the 26th Constitutional Amendment, now integrates parliamentary members. This amendment aims to enhance transparency and representation in the judicial appointment process.
The National Assembly has nominated PML-N’s Sheikh Aftab and Opposition Leader Omar Ayub. From the Senate, the nominees are PPP’s Farooq H Naek, Opposition Leader Shibli Faraz, and former Senator Roshan Khursheed Bharucha. Ayub and Shibli are members of PTI.
As a National Assembly spokesperson confirmed, the JCP secretary has received all nominations, ensuring balanced representation from both the government and the opposition.
The Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) plays a crucial role in the judicial system. It appoints judges to the Supreme Court, high courts, and the Federal Shariat Court and monitors their performance.
The 26th Constitutional Amendment, enacted last month by President Asif Ali Zardari on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s advice, has introduced comprehensive judicial reforms. These include setting a three-year tenure for the CJP, forming new constitutional benches, and establishing a parliamentary committee to nominate the CJP. This reform package, passed by a substantial majority in parliament, aims to overhaul judicial appointments and performance evaluations while setting a deadline for eradicating Riba (interest) by January 1, 2028.
