Judicial Commission Approves Appointment of Five New Supreme Court Judges Amid Boycott
A meeting of the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP), chaired by Chief Justice Yahya Afridi, was held with nine members in attendance. Two judges and two PTI members boycotted the session.
According to sources, the JCP has approved the appointment of five new judges to the Supreme Court of Pakistan. The newly appointed judges include:
- Chief Justice of Islamabad High Court (IHC) Aamer Farooq
- Chief Justice of Sindh High Court (SHC) Shafi Siddiqui
- Justice Salahuddin Panhwar
- Chief Justice of Balochistan High Court Hashim Khan Kakar
- Justice Shakeel Ahmed of Peshawar High Court
Additionally, Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb has been appointed as an ad-hoc judge of the Supreme Court under Article 181 of the Constitution. His appointment aims to address tax-related cases. However, sources indicate that this decision makes him ineligible for the position of Chief Justice of Islamabad High Court.
The JCP’s meeting was marked by controversy. Justices Mansoor Ali Shah and Muneeb Akhtar boycotted the proceedings and wrote to Chief Justice Afridi, requesting a postponement. Barrister Gohar and Senator Ali Zafar also protested and walked out after recording their objections.
For months, the appointment process has been disputed over issues of seniority, leading to divisions within the judiciary. Four senior Supreme Court judges—Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Muneeb Akhtar, Justice Ayesha Malik, and Justice Athar Minallah—previously urged the Chief Justice to delay the appointments, citing the need for a full bench to hear a case on the 26th Constitutional Amendment.
Concerns were also raised over the transfer of three judges from Islamabad High Court without taking a fresh oath, which some legal experts argue raises constitutional concerns regarding their judicial status.
Meanwhile, Senator Ali Zafar called for a postponement of the meeting, citing unresolved seniority disputes. Despite these objections, the JCP proceeded with the appointments, which now await final approval from the President of Pakistan.
The outcome of this meeting will shape the Supreme Court’s future composition and may impact ongoing judicial disputes.
