Judicial Commission of Pakistan proposes Justice Aamer Farooq’s appointment as next IHC CJ

ISLAMABAD, Nov 01, (SABAH): The Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) on Tuesday proposed the appointment of Chief Justice Aamer Farooq as next Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice.

The meeting of JCP was held under the chairmanship of Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Umar Ata Bandial to consider the appointment of the new IHC CJ, during which the CJP went on to say that Justice Aamer Farooq is one of the most senior judges in the Islamabad High Court.

After nine months of deadlock, the Judicial Commission of Pakistan last week approved the elevation of three high courts judges, including IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah to the Supreme Court.

After the elevation of Justice Minallah to the apex court, two seats in the high court stood vacant.

Parliamentary Committee of Judges’ Appointment is holding a meeting on November 3 to consider the JCP proposals regarding the elevation of three high court judges, including IHC CJ Minallah.

During its meeting held on Oct 24, the JCP by a majority of 5-4 did not approve the nomination of Justice Muhammad Shafi Siddiqui, who is sixth on the seniority list of the Sindh High Court (SHC) Judges.

JCP unanimously approved the elevation of IHC Chief Justice Minallah, while the elevation of Justice Shahid Waheed and Justice Hasan Azhar Rizvi of Lahore High Court (LHC) was approved by majority of 5-4 votes.

The nomination SHC Justice Siddiqui was deferred by the JCP by a 5-4 votes after one member, Justice (retd) Sarmad Jalal Osmany dissented, saying that SHC Justice Aqeel Abbasi was a better option.

Three Judicial members, Justice Qazi Faez Isa, Justice Sardar Tariq Masood and Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, opposed the nomination of three junior high courts judges as they supported seniority principle.