JCP to meet on judges appointment rules on June 11

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Police officers walk past the Supreme Court of Pakistan building, in Islamabad, Pakistan April 6, 2022. REUTERS

ISLAMABAD:

A meeting of the Judicial Commission of Pakistan has been convened for June 11 to deliberate on approving new rules governing judicial appointments, sources said.

The meeting will be chaired by Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi. The agenda includes consideration of rules prepared by a five-member rule-making committee headed by Justice Aamer Farooq.

The committee has finalized its recommendations, which include proposals for forming a mechanism to conduct interviews of candidates for judicial appointments. Sources said once the JCP approves the rules, the process of appointing judges in the high courts will formally begin.

Sources said the June 11 meeting is also expected to decide the composition of a proposed committee that would interview candidates seeking elevation to the superior judiciary.

The matter was discussed in detail during a meeting of the JCP's Rule-Making Committee on May 6. The committee was tasked with developing a mechanism for appointments in light of recent constitutional changes affecting the structure and functioning of the judiciary.

The 27th Constitutional Amendment empowered the JCP to frame rules regulating its own procedures, including the "procedure and criteria for the assessment, interview, evaluation, and fitness for appointment of judges".

The Rule-Making Committee comprises Federal Constitutional Court Justice Aamer Farooq, Attorney General for Pakistan Mansoor Usman Awan, Senator Farooq H Naek, Senator Syed Ali Zafar, and Pakistan Bar Council representative Ahsan Bhoon.

The committee members discussed multiple proposals regarding interviews of prospective judges.

Senator Ali Zafar proposed that the entire JCP should interview each candidate when his or her nomination comes before the commission, arguing that such a process would ensure collective assessment by all members.