ISLAMABAD - Judicial Commission of Pakistan Wednesday recommended the elevation of Chief Justice of Sindh High Court Justice Faisal Arab as judge of the Supreme Court.
The JCP also recommended the name of Justice Sajjad Ali Shah, senior most judge of SHC for chief justice of high court. Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali presided over the meeting.
On November 5, 2015 Chief Justice Lahore High Court Justice Manzoor Ahmed Malik and Justice Sardar Tariq Masood, Judge of LHC were elevated to the Supreme Court as judges.
Justice Faisal Arab, besides being the CJ SHC, is also heading a three-member Special Court, which is hearing federation complaint, against former President General (Retd) Pervez Musharaf under Article 6 of constitution.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Bar Council and the legal fraternity have taken strong exception to the Judicial Commission of Pakistan’s attempt to appoint retired judges of the apex court as the ad-hoc judges.
Muhammad Ahsan Bhoon, Chairman Executive Committee PBC in a statement on Wednesday said any such move would severely undermine the independence of judiciary and loss of confidence in it.
He said there are several unanimous resolutions of the Pakistan Bar Council and the Supreme Court Bar Association opposing such appointments.
A judge who has retired must not be encouraged to be reappointed as it affects the image of the institution.
This practice had dragged down the image of the Supreme Court earlier because of constant ad hocism.
The PBC urged the Judicial Commission to reverse its decision as it may give temporary relief but in the long term it places an objectionable precedent that has been criticised by every faction of the Bar Councils and Bar Associations.