JCP backs Justice Najafi for apex court seat: sources

ISLAMABAD: The Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP), under the chairmanship of Chief Justice Yahya Afridi, convened on Friday to deliberate on the appointment of two new judges to the Supreme Court.

According to sources, the commission approved the nomination of Justice Ali Baqar Najafi to the apex court by a majority vote. Justice Najafi currently serves on the Lahore High Court and was among five senior judges from the LHC whose names were considered during the session.

Other judges under consideration from the LHC included LHC Chief Justice Aalia Neelam, Justice Shujaat Ali Khan, Justice Abid Aziz Sheikh, Justice Ali Baqir Najafi, and Justice Sadaqat Hussain.

The JCP meeting, which lasted around two and a half hours, also reviewed several other appointments.

Former judges Justice (retd) Maqbool Baqar from Sindh, Justice (retd) Nazir Lango from Balochistan, Justice (retd) Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui from Islamabad High Court, and Justice (retd) Shakirullah Jan from Peshawar High Court have been appointed as JCP members, sources said.

In addition, the commission approved the removal of certain remarks related to Justice Shujaat Ali Khan from its record, the sources added.

They further said two members of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) voted in favour of the appointment of Justice Najafi. The PTI members also supported the deletion of remarks regarding Justice Shujaat Ali Khan.

The final approval of Justice Najafi’s appointment will now move to the relevant constitutional forum.

Also read: What is a tariff, and why does something happening in the US affecting my local bakery?