- Four HC judges make verbal queries on post-retirement benefits.
- Search for information on when pension benefits are due.
- Two out of four judges will become eligible for retirement next month in December.
ISLAMABAD: Following the controversial 27th constitutional amendment that empowers the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) to transfer Supreme Court judges across provinces without their consent, fresh indications have emerged that as many as four Supreme Court judges may be considering stepping down.
Well-placed sources told The news that these four judges have recently approached their respective High Court accounting departments seeking detailed information on their post-retirement entitlements.
Their queries, all made verbally, relate to pension benefits, the exact dates on which such benefits fall due in two of the cases, the status of their accumulated leave balance and the written-off value of the official vehicles currently in use, should they choose to purchase them now.
According to sources, these inquiries have sparked strong speculation in judicial circles that the four judges – already understood to be on the government’s list for transfer following the passage of the 27th Amendment – are actively weighing the possibility of resigning rather than being reassigned to new provinces or regions.
Two of the four justices will become eligible for retirement sometime next month – December 2025, leading to uncertainty about the timing of any decision. “If they choose to resign, it is still not clear whether the resignations will come immediately or after they are eligible for pension benefits,” a source said, adding: “Even if they do resign, there is no clarity on whether they will continue collectively or individually”.
The development comes amid reported government plans for a judicial reshuffle following the 27th Amendment, which government circles claim is needed to address the behavior of certain judges who they say have “brought disgrace” to the judiciary.
However, others believe that the 27th Amendment has seriously weakened the independence of the judiciary and in such a situation it is difficult for the “independent minded” judges to continue.
Although the Judicial Commission of Pakistan is constitutionally empowered to appoint and transfer judges, the current constitution of the JCP government appears to be an advantage.
Originally published in The News
