ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court has sought explanation from principal secretaries to president, prime minister and Senate on elevation of the Islamabad High Court chief justice to the SC and confirmation of two IHC judges.
Sources said that SC Registrar Dr Faqir Hussain on Monday sent two different letters to the secretaries.The SC registrar in his first letter asked why the confirmation letter regarding the elevation of IHC Chief Justice Iqbal Hameedur Rehman in the Supreme Court was not being issued. The JudicialCommission of Pakistan (JCP), headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, on October 22 recommended to the Parliamentary Committee on Judges Appointment to confirm the appointment of Rehman at the SC.
The registrar has asked the secretaries concerned why the notification is not being issued despite the completion of all constitutional requirements mentioned in Article 175A of the Constitution.
In the second letter, the registrar has sought explanation from the secretaries about confirmation of the services of Justice Shaukat Siddiqui as the regular judge and extension of Justice Noorul Haq Qureshi. The SJC had confirmed the services of Justice Siddiqui as regular judge, giving six months extension to Justice Qureshi and sent the case for the approval of Parliamentary Committee on Judges Appointment, which endorsed the SJC recommendations. The letter contends that the legal process has been complied but the notification is not being issued about two IHC judges, whose term is expiring today.
According to sources, if the government will not issue the notification for IHC judges’ appointment,they might be appointed by a court order.
The delay in notification will interrupt the hearing of the petition challenging the extension of the chief of army staff, which is fixed for today.