JCP adds five more judges to constitutional bench

ISLAMABAD: The Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) has approved the inclusion of five additional judges in the Supreme Court’s constitutional bench, bringing the total number of judges on the bench to 13. 

According to sources privy to the matter, Justice Hashim Kakar, Justice Aamer Farooq, Justice Shakeel Ahmed, Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim, and Justice Salahuddin Panhwar have been added to the constitutional bench. 

Sources claimed that the decision was approved by a majority vote during the JCP meeting held under the chairmanship of Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Yahya Afridi on Friday.

However, sources said, Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Munib Akhtar, and PTI’s two members in the commission, Ali Zafar and Barrister Gohar, opposed the move.

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The opposing members argued that all Supreme Court judges should be included in the constitutional bench instead of a selective few. 

Meanwhile, the Judicial Commission also nominated three more judges for the Sindh High Court’s constitutional bench.

The newly appointed judges include Justice Riazat Sahar, Justice Nisar Ahmed Bhanbhro, and Justice Abdul Hamid.

All three judges were appointed as additional judges to the Sindh High court on January 29, 2025.

Supreme Court Additional Registrar Nazar Abbas retires 

Earlier in the day, Chief Justice Yahya Afridi attended a ceremony to bid farewell to Additional Registrar of the Supreme Court Nazar Abbas, who has retired after completing his tenure. 

The ceremony was held at the Supreme Court, according to an official statement. 

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Justice Afridi praised Nazar Abbas’s key role in the effective management of judicial affairs, calling his administrative services commendable. 

Meanwhile, the Registrar of the Supreme Court also acknowledged his valuable contributions to the court’s administrative functions.