JC could not reach consensus on appointment of LHC Justice Ayesha A. Malik as first ever judge of Supreme Court of Pakistan
ISLAMABAD ( Web News )
Judicial Commission could not reach consensus on the appointment of Lahore High Court Justice Ayesha A. Malik as first ever judge of Supreme Court of Pakistan here on Thursday.
The meeting of the judicial commission was held under the chairmanship of Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Gulzar Ahmed. Justice Qazi Faez Isa could not attend the Judicial Commission meeting as he is abroad these days in connection with his wife’s treatment. The meeting of the judicial commission was attended by CJP Gulzar Ahmed, Justice Umar Ata Bandial, Justice Maqbool Baqar, Justice Sardar Tariq Masood, former judge Supreme Court of Pakistan Justice Dost Muhammad Khan, Federal Minister for Law and Justice Dr. Barrister Muhammad Farogh Naseem, Attorney General for Pakistan Barrister Khalid Jawed Khan and Senior Advocate Supreme Court of Pakistan and Member Pakistan Bar Council Akhtar Hussain. First time Justice Sardar Tariq Masood attended the meeting of the judicial commission after becoming the member of the judicial commission after the retirement of senior most judge of Supreme Court of Pakistan justice Mushir Alam.
The judicial commission could not reach consensus as the number of votes in favor and opposition of appointment of Justice Ayesha A. Malik were equal. Four votes were in favor and four were in opposition. So far the new date of meeting of judicial commission has not been announced.
While talking to media after the meeting of the judicial commission the member Pakistan Bar Council Akhtar Hussain Advocate said that this is not success or failure of anyone and this decision has been made on merit and principles. He said that four members of the Judicial Commission have opposed the appointment and these members think that the principle of seniority itself has merits and it should not be violated. He said that Justice Sardar Tariq Masood was also of the view that the seniority principle prevails and no judgment is binding for the judicial commission and JC could make decisions independently. Akhtar Hussain said that apart from seniority the bar is also ready for determining any other criteria. Akhtar Hussain said that it was his personal opinion that the chief justice of Islamabad High Court should be elevated to Supreme Court of Pakistan.