Supreme Court Appoints New Judges Amidst Increased Workload and Constitutional Amendments
In a significant development, the Supreme Court of Pakistan has appointed six new judges following a proposal by the Judicial Commission of Pakistan. The move comes as the court faces a substantial increase in the number of cases being heard daily. The Chief Justice emphasized the growing pressure on judges, who now handle up to 40 cases a day compared to just 12 in previous years, underlining the necessity for additional judicial appointments to maintain efficiency.
The newly appointed judges include Justice Amir Farooq, Chief Justice of Islamabad High Court, Justice Ijazul Ahsan of Lahore High Court, Justice Shafi Siddiqui of Sindh High Court, Justice Hashim Kakhar of Balochistan High Court, Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui from Islamabad, and Justice Syed Sibt Ali Shah from Peshawar High Court. Justice Farooq’s appointment is particularly noteworthy as he has been involved in high-profile cases, such as the acquittal of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz.
Justice Farooq also commented on the ongoing issue of judicial workload and highlighted the need for more judges to cope with the increasing caseload, which is leading to delays in delivering justice. Moreover, the Chief Justice mentioned that Justice Gul Hassan Aurangzeb, an Acting Judge from Islamabad High Court, had been recommended for appointment due to his expertise in corporate and tax-related cases.
However, Lahore High Court did not have any new appointments in this round, with discussions expected to take place in the upcoming meeting of the Judicial Commission regarding the selection of judges from Lahore.
This reshuffling comes amid significant constitutional changes, with ongoing debates about the 26th Constitutional Amendment, which seeks to redefine judicial powers. The latest appointments are expected to strengthen the judicial system, enabling the Supreme Court to handle cases more efficiently and maintain the rule of law.
