The Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP), led by Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi, convened on Saturday and voted to extend the tenure of judges currently appointed to the Supreme Court’s constitutional benches for six months.
Chief Justice Afridi chaired two critical sessions at the Supreme Court in Islamabad. The agenda included reviewing the JCP (Appointment of Judges) Rules 2024 and discussing the extension of the tenure for judges on constitutional benches. The first session started at 11 a.m. and spanned eight hours, focusing on refining the draft regulations for judge appointments and incorporating public feedback on these proposals.
After thorough discussions, the commission endorsed the appointment rules with several amendments. In a subsequent meeting, most JCP members approved the six-month extension for the nominated judges serving on the apex court’s constitutional benches.
Read: JCP Confirms SHC Judges on Constitutional Benches Until November 24
The meetings saw broad participation from the judiciary and legislative branches. Attendees included Supreme Court Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Munib Akhtar, who joined via video link alongside justices from various high courts. Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan, and representatives from both government and opposition, as well as provincial government officials and bar councils, were present.
This decision follows last month’s reconstitution of the judicial body by the 26th Amendment, which also established a seven-member constitutional bench.
The 26th Amendment outlines that the JCP, now comprising 13 members, appoints judges to the Supreme Court, high courts, and the Federal Shariat Court (FSC). Additionally, the commission includes two senators, two members of the National Assembly, and other distinguished legal professionals and lawmakers, reflecting a comprehensive governance approach to judicial appointments.
