Islamabad, February 10, 2025: The Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) on Monday approved the appointment of six new judges to the Supreme Court despite a boycott by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers and two senior SC judges
According to a JCP press release, the meeting, chaired by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi, was held to consider nominations for the apex court. By a majority vote, the commission approved six judges, including the chief justices of all high courts except the Lahore High Court (LHC). The newly appointed judges are:
- Justice Muhammad Hashim Khan Kakar
- Justice Muhammad Shafi Siddiqui
- Justice Salahuddin Panhwar
- Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim
- Justice Shakeel Ahmad
- Justice Aamer Farooq
Additionally, the JCP also nominated Islamabad High Court’s (IHC) Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb as an Acting Judge of the Supreme Court.
PTI, senior judges boycott meeting
The commission’s proceedings were overshadowed by a boycott from PTI’s Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and Senator Ali Zafar, as well as Supreme Court Justices Mansoor Ali Shah and Munib Akhtar. PTI had previously urged the postponement of the session until cases challenging the 26th Constitutional Amendment were resolved.
Speaking to journalists, Barrister Gohar reiterated PTI’s stance, stating that their petitions against the amendment were still pending, and they had chosen to abstain from the meeting in protest. Barrister Zafar echoed similar concerns, emphasizing that unresolved seniority issues should have been addressed before proceeding with appointments.
Despite objections, the JCP proceeded with the meeting after a vote, with the majority deciding to move forward with the nominations.
The appointments come amid ongoing debates over judicial seniority. Earlier this month, the JCP sought nominations from all high courts, requesting lists of five senior judges from each. However, complications arose following the transfer of Lahore High Court’s Justice Sarfraz Dogar, along with judges from the Sindh and Balochistan High Courts, to the IHC.
Following these transfers, the IHC revised its seniority list, designating Justice Dogar as its senior puisne judge. This move prompted concerns from five IHC judges, who challenged the revised seniority structure in a formal representation to the IHC chief justice and CJP Afridi. They argued that transferred judges must take a fresh oath under Article 194 of the Constitution, which would place them at the bottom of the seniority list, affecting their eligibility for key positions.
Despite these ongoing legal and procedural debates, the JCP’s decision marks a significant development in the composition of the Supreme Court, potentially reshaping the judiciary’s future.
