Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Yahya Afridi on Tuesday chaired the Judicial Commission of Pakistan’s (JCP) meeting, which approved the appointment of permanent chief justices of Sindh, Peshawar and Balochistan high courts, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
The JCP appointed Justice Sarfraz Dogar as the permanent chief justice of the Islamabad High Court (IHC).
Justice SM Atiq Shah was appointed as the permanent chief justice (CJ) of the Peshawar High Court (PHC), while Justice Rozi Khan was appointed as the permanent chief justice of the Balochistan High Court (BHC) and Justice Junaid Ghaffar was appointed as the chief justice of the Sindh High Court.
Sources told the 24News TV channel that SC judge Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, however, objected to the meeting, saying that first of all let the court give its decision on the 26th constitutional amendment.
Justice Muneeb Akhtar, too, agreed with Justice Mansoor.
Two JCP members, from the PTI, and KP law minister too threw their weight behind Justice Mansoor’s standpoint.
The JCP approved the appointment of Justice Sarfaraz Dogar as the IHC CJ by 16 votes to nine.
Justice Aminuddin Khan, Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Usman Awan, Federal Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar, Pakistan Bar representative Ahsan Bhoon, Senator Farooq H. Naek, MNA Sheikh Aftab, Roshan Khursheed Barocha, MNA Rana Tanveer and Justice (r) Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui also voted in the favour of Dogar.
Six votes were cast against him.
Justice Jamal Mandokhel did not vote for any judge, while Justice Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Muneeb Akhtar voted in the favour of Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani; four members of the JCP voted in the favour of Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb.
Two JCP members, belonging to the PTI, too, cast their votes in the favour of Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb.
Reporter: Amanat Gishkori