ISLAMABAD:
The Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) has approved by majority vote the confirmation of three additional judges – Inaam Ameen Minhas, Muhammad Asif and Muhammad Azam Khan – as permanent judges of the Islamabad High Court (IHC).
The commission has also approved – by majority – the confirmation of Justice Najam-ud-Din Mengal as a permanent judge of the Balochistan High Court (BHC). However, it has not confirmed the services of Justice Muhammad Ayub Khan, who is no longer serving as a BHC judge.
On Monday, three JCP meetings were held under the chairmanship of Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi, with different compositions, in the conference room of the Supreme Court building.
The meetings were convened to discuss key institutional and policy issues, in addition to making recommendations for the confirmation of additional judges in the IHC and BHC.
At the first meeting, the core commission established under Article 175A of the Constitution considered 2, questions regarding the criteria for the appointment of judges to the constitutional bodies in the high courts.
It also examined the procedure for interviews of candidates for judicial appointments and amendment of the JCP (Appointment of Judges) Rules, 2024, relating to appointments to the Federal Constitutional Court (FCC).
After deliberations, the commission authorized the committee to examine these issues in detail and to submit to it recommendations regarding the procedure for consultation and amendments to the rules to ensure effective and transparent implementation of the constitutional framework.
The committee headed by Chief Justice Aamer Farooq will review the issues and frame the rules.
In the second meeting, the commission considered the confirmation of three additional judges from the IHC. Sources said that during deliberations on the confirmation of Judge Asif, the road accident in which his son ran his car over two girls in Islamabad in December 2025 was also discussed.
IHC Chief Justice Sarfaraz Dogar briefed commission members about the incident. Sources said IHC senior puisne judge Mohsin Akhtar Kayani appreciated the fact that Justice Muhammad Asif did not use his office or position to influence any official to get exemption for his son.
In the third meeting, opposition was registered against the permanent appointment of Justice Muhammad Ayub Khan of the BHC. Sources said two JCP members associated with PTI – Advocate Gohar and Advocate Ali Zafar – did not attend the meeting.
Separately, President Haroon-ur-Rashid of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) along with members of his cabinet inaugurated the Advocates-on-Record (AOR) and Litigant Facilitation Center at the SC premises. The ceremony was held in the presence of CJP Afridi and other SC judges.
The newly established center has been established to provide structured facilitation to Advocates-on-Record, enabling them to effectively guide and assist litigants in matters related to procedural requirements, case filing, documentation and other ancillary matters.
The initiative is a citizen-focused, one-window, walk-in service designed on a “people-first” service delivery model, aimed at increasing institutional responsiveness and improving the overall litigation experience at the SC.
The Advocates-on-Record & Litigant Facilitation Center is expected to act as an effective interface between litigants, lawyers and court administration, thereby contributing to a more responsive, transparent and efficient judicial sector, it said in a statement.
