ISLAMABAD: The Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) is expected to meet on July 28 to consider elevation of four judges to the Supreme Court from different high courts.

The Supreme Court is currently functioning with 13 judges against a sanctioned strength of 17, whereas five judges from three high courts have been selected for appointment as judges of the apex court, an informed source told Dawn.

Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial will preside over the JCP meeting..

Those who are being considered for elevation as judges of the Supreme Court are: Justice Shahid Waheed of the Lahore High Court (LHC), Peshawar High Court Chief Justice Qaiser Rasheed Khan and Justice Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi, Justice Muhammad Shafi Siddiq and Justice Naimatullah Phulpoto of the Sindh High Court.

Four offices of Supreme Court judges fell vacant after the retirement of Justice Mushir Alam, former chief justice Gulzar Ahmed, Justice Maqbool Baqar and Justice Mazhar Alam Khan Miankhel.

Justice Sajjad Ali Shah will reach superannuation next August.

Justice Qaiser Rashid Khan had taken oath as acting CJ of Peshawar High Court on Nov 16, 2020, and later as CJ on Jan 9 last year.

Justice Shahid Waheed of the LHC, who is fourth in the court’s seniority list, had joined as judge on March 27, 2012.

Justice Syed Hassan Azhar Rizvi, Justice Muhammad Shafi Siddiqui and Justice Naimatullah Phulphoto are at the fourth, sixth and seventh place in the seniority list of Sindh High Court.

They had joined the SHC on Feb 18, 2010, March 20, 2012, and June 1, 2012, respectively.

Published in Dawn, July 22nd, 2022