ISLAMABAD, Sept 25: A change in the leadership of Islamabad High Court is likely as the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry will consider on Thursday the name of incumbent IHC Chief Justice Iqbal Hameedur Rehman for his elevation to the Supreme Court and that of Justice Mohammad Anwar Khan Kasi as the next chief justice of the high court.

Sources in the law ministry told Dawn that being the most senior judge Justice Kasi would be the next chief justice of IHC, but his appointment was subject to approval by the JCP which would meet on Thursday.

According to them, Justice Hameedur Rehman would fill the SC seat falling vacant due to the retirement of Justice Mian Shakirullah Jan.

Justice Hameedur Rehman, a judge of the Lahore High Court, was appointed as chief justice of the IHC in January last year. The names of Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed and Justice Umar Ata Bandial of the LHC were also under consideration for the position.

Justice Hameedur Rehman, son of famous judge Justice Hamoodur Rehman, was born in Dhaka on Sept 25, 1956. He did his graduation from the Punjab University and LLB and DLL from Punjab University Law College, Lahore. He has served as general secretary of the Lahore High Court Bar Association.

Justice Anwar Khan Kasi was born on Nov 28, 1956. He did his graduation from the University of Balochistan in 1978 and Masters in Economics and LLB from the same university in 1980-81.

He joined the judicial service as a civil judge in May 1986 and was promoted to the post of district and sessions judge in 1997.