ISLAMABAD: The Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Gulzar Ahmed on Thursday deferred confirmation of three additional judges of Islamabad High Court (IHC).

The JCP convened the meeting to consider the confirmation of three IHC judges – Justice Fiaz Ahmed Anjum Jandran, Justice Ghulam Azam Qambrani and Justice Lubna Saleem Pervaiz at the Supreme Court building in Islamabad.

IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah also attended the meeting.

Under Article 175-A of the Constitution, JCP recommends for the appointment and confirmation of the judges, whereas the Parliamentary Committee on Judges Appointment endorses these recommendations.

Sources privy to the meeting said the JCP did not confirm the service of IHC Judges who were inducted last year.

However, IHC chief justice insisted that instead of removing these judges, they may be given an extension for a second review after a period of six months.

Subsequently, the JCP extended the service of these judges for six months and referred this matter to the Parliamentary Committee.

On Nov 21 last year the JCP recommended Ms Pervaiz, Mr Jandran and Mr Qambrani as additional judges, and the nominations were unanimously confirmed by the parliamentary committee on Dec 4.

There are currently four judges in the IHC in addition to these three additional judges. They include Chief Justice Athar Minallah, Senior Puisne Judge Aamer Farooq, Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb.

Published in Dawn, November 6th, 2020