Amid protests by lawyers in Islamabad and the boycott of four members of the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP), the judicial body, led by Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi, appointed six new judges to the Supreme Court on Monday.
The appointments come despite opposition from four Supreme Court judges and follow the recent transfer of judges to the Islamabad High Court (IHC), a move contested by five IHC judges. Moreover, Pakistan TehreekeInsaf (PTI) lawmakers and two Supreme Court judges boycotted the JCP meeting convened for the appointments.
Lawyers staged demonstrations at various locations in Islamabad, with the Lawyers’ Action Committee protesting near DChowk. Meanwhile, authorities closed off entry routes to the Red Zone and blocked several other roads.
Who are the newly appointed Supreme Court judges?
The following judges have been approved for appointment to the Supreme Court:
- Justice Aamer Farooq – Chief Justice of Islamabad High Court (IHC)
- Justice Shafi Siddiqui – Chief Justice of Sindh High Court
- Justice Salahuddin Panhwar – Sindh High Court
- Justice Hashim Khan Kakar – Chief Justice of Balochistan High Court
- Justice Shakeel Ahmed – Peshawar High Court
- Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb of the IHC has been appointed as an adhoc judge of the Supreme Court.
Also read: Lawyers storm Islamabad Red Zone amid JCP meeting to choose 8 SC judges
These appointments aim to complete the bench strength of the Supreme Court and improve judicial efficiency.
