The reconstituted Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) will hold its inaugural meeting tomorrow (Tuesday), with expectations of the nomination of judges for constitutional benches to advance various cases pending before the apex court.
Summoned by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi, who also serves as chair of the JCP, the meeting would convene in the Supreme Court Building at 2 p.m. The meeting’s agenda, per a circular issued by the secretary of the JCP, is the establishment of a Secretariat; nomination of judges for constitutional benches in the Supreme Court; and “any other agenda with the permission of the chair.”
Following the enactment of the 26th constitutional amendment, the Judicial Commission of Pakistan has been expanded to include parliamentarians—two each from the treasury and opposition benches from the National Assembly and Senate—as well as a member of the civil society. Its current makeup comprises Chief Justice Yahya Afridi and Justices Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, Munib Akhtar, and Aminuddin of the Supreme Court. Additionally, it includes Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar; Attorney General for Pakistan Mansoor Usman Awan; and Akhtar Hussain, a senior advocated of the Supreme Court nominated by the Pakistan Bar Council.
Senator Shibli Faraz and Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Omar Ayub Khan would represent the opposition in the JCP. Senator Farooq H. Naek of the PPP and MNA Sheikh Aftab Ahmad of the PMLN would represent the government. National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq has appointed Roshan Khursheed Bharucha as the civil society representative.
The JCP is also required to include as a member the senior-most judge of the constitutional benches; however the seat has yet to be filled as the formation of the benches remains pending.