ISLAMABAD, November 25,2024- The Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) on Monday approved the appointment of nine judges for constitutional benches in the Sindh High Court (SHC) by a majority vote of 11-4.
The decision came during the JCP’s third meeting under the 26th Constitutional Amendment, chaired by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi at the Supreme Court in Islamabad. The meeting focused exclusively on the formation of constitutional benches in the SHC.
Following a detailed exchange of views, the commission finalized the names of nine judges to serve on the SHC constitutional benches for a period of two months. Justice Muhammad Karim Khan Agha was nominated to head the constitutional benches and chair a three-member constitutional committee tasked with overseeing their formation.
However, the decision was not unanimous. Senior puisne Supreme Court judges Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Munib Akhtar, and SHC Chief Justice Muhammad Shafi Siddiqui opposed the majority decision. CJP Afridi abstained from voting.
Earlier this month, the JCP had constituted a seven-member constitutional bench under Justice Amin-ud-Din Khan, also as part of the 26th Amendment, in a 7-5 split decision. This bench included judges from all provinces to ensure representation.
The JCP meeting was attended by senior judicial and legislative figures, including Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Munib Akhtar, Senator Farooq H. Naek, MNA Omar Ayub, and Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan.
At the outset of the meeting, an objection was raised by Opposition Leader Omar Ayub regarding the quorum due to the absence of one member. However, the commission voted to proceed with the session, affirming that it was in accordance with constitutional provisions.
The commission also deliberated on establishing a dedicated secretariat to streamline its functions. After thorough discussion, the body authorized CJP Afridi to move forward with rule-making and the establishment of the secretariat.
The JCP is constitutionally mandated to oversee the appointment of judges to the Supreme Court, high courts, and the Federal Shariat Court (FSC), ensuring judicial excellence and accountability.
