ISLAMABAD: The Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar has recommended the appointment of senior puisne judge of the Islamabad High Court as its next chief justice.
The JCP convened its meeting on Thursday at the Supreme Court building.
The Supreme Court had on Oct 23 issued a press release which stated: “Hon’ble Mr Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, Chief Justice of Pakistan/Chairman Judicial Commission of Pakistan, has convened the meeting of Judicial Commission of Pakistan on November 1, 2018, at Supreme Court, Islamabad, to consider the name of Hon’ble Mr Justice Athar Minallah, Senior Puisne Judge, Islamabad High Court, for appointment as the Chief Justice of Islamabad High Court.”
As per Article 175-A of the Constitution, the Parliamentary Committee on Judges’ Appointment will consider the JCP’s recommendation and will forward its endorsement to the president in a fortnight.
Justice Minallah will assume the office of the IHC chief justice on Nov 27 as the incumbent Chief Justice Mohammad Anwar Khan is attaining the age of superannuation on Nov 28.
Justice Minallah is the eldest son of Nasrum Minallah, who remained commissioner during the 1960s and 70s. He is the son-in-law of Justice Safdar Shah, who was part of the bench that convicted and sentenced former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, but wrote a dissenting note against the conviction for which he faced the wrath of then military dictator Gen Ziaul Haq.
Justice Minallah joined the Pakistan Customs and rose to senior positions, but later resigned and started practising law. Following the sacking of then chief justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, he joined the lawyers’ movement for restoration of the judiciary.
However, after Justice Chaudhry’s restoration, he became a critic of the judiciary because of excessive suo motu cases which led to pendency of routine cases.
Justice Minallah was appointed IHC judge in June 2014 and is considered as one of the finest judges of the superior judiciary.
Published in Dawn, November 2nd, 2018
