Appointing Justice Zafar Rajput, Justice Kamran Mullakhel as Sindh, Balochistan High Court Judges respectively
The Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) on Tuesday recommended the appointment of Justice Mian Gul Hassan Aurangzeb as a permanent judge of the Supreme Court by majority vote, according to an official statement.
The meeting, held under the chairmanship of Chief Justice of Pakistan and Chairman Judicial Commission Yahya Afridi, also unanimously recommended Justice Zafar Ahmed Rajput as Chief Justice of Sindh High Court and Justice Muhammad Kamran Khan Mullakhel as Chief Justice of Balochistan High Court.
Justice Aurangzeb is currently serving as an Acting Judge of the Supreme Court. Sources said the names of three senior judges were being considered for the permanent appointment of the Supreme Court – Justice Sarfraz Dogar, Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani and Justice Mian Gul Hassan Aurangzeb.
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For the post of Chief Justice of the Sindh High Court, the commission considered three senior judges: Justice Zafar Ahmed Rajput, currently serving as Acting Chief Justice; Judge Iqbal Kalhoro; and Justice Mahmood Khan.
Justice Muhammad Kamran Mullakhel is currently appointed as Acting Chief Justice of Balochistan High Court.
The JCP also formed a five-member committee after majority vote to formulate rules, according to the statement. The Rules Committee includes Federal Constitutional Court Judge Aamir Farooq, Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan, Senator Farooq Naek, Senior Advocates Ali Zafar and Ahsan Bhoon.
In addition, a judicial committee was set up to finalize the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) rules, headed by Justice Jamal Mandokhail. Justice Hassan Azhar Rizvi and Lahore High Court judge Aalia Neelum also participated as members of the committee, sources said. The committee will make recommendations to the council regarding changes to the SJC’s rules.
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This is the first formal meeting of the JCP regarding appointments to the Supreme Judiciary after the 27th Amendment to the Constitution of Pakistan. On November 18, three judicial forums were reconstituted under the amendment, including the JCP, the SJC and the Practice and Procedure Act (PAPA) committee under the SC.
The JCP is the constitutional body that retains the power to elevate judges to superior courts. The SJC, on the other hand, hears complaints filed against superior court judges in light of alleged misconduct. SC’s PAPA committee forms benches and enumerates cases.
