High Court Judges’ Appointments Issue Resolved as President Signs All Summaries
ISLAMABAD: The issue concerning the appointment of judges to various high courts has been resolved after President Asif Ali Zardari signed all the pending summaries for judicial appointments.
According to Express News, Prime Minister’s Adviser Dr. Syed Tauqeer Shah and National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq also played a key role in resolving the matter related to the judges’ appointment summaries.
Under the approved summaries, the president signed off on the appointment of 10 additional judges to the Lahore High Court, three additional judges to the Sindh High Court, and an extension for one additional judge of the Sindh High Court.
President Zardari also approved the appointment of three additional judges to the Islamabad High Court, the confirmation of four additional judges of the Peshawar High Court, and the appointment of three additional judges to the Balochistan High Court.
The president further signed the summary for the confirmation of one additional judge of the Lahore High Court.
In addition, President Zardari approved a summary seeking to bring the salaries, allowances and pensions of Supreme Court judges at par with those of judges of the Federal Constitutional Court. He also approved an amendment order concerning the High Court Leave, Pension and Privileges Order, 1997.
The president also approved the appointment of Haroon Akhtar as Adviser to the Prime Minister for Industries and Production.
The Judicial Commission of Pakistan had recommended the appointment of 19 additional judges during its meetings held on July 20 and 21. The commission had also recommended the confirmation of five additional judges and an extension for one judge during the two meetings.
A petition had also been filed before the Islamabad High Court against the delay in signing the judicial appointment summaries. The Islamabad High Court had sought a response from the federal government and the Ministry of Law and Justice on the issue.
With the president signing the pending summaries, the matter concerning the judicial nominations has now been resolved, potentially rendering the proceedings before the Islamabad High Court ineffective.
The oath-taking ceremonies for the newly appointed and confirmed judges are expected to be held soon.
