Justice Mansoor Shah, Justice Munib Akhtar boycott JCP meeting

Supreme Court (SC) judges Justice Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Munib Akhtar, who had earlier written a letter to Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Yahya Afridi, requesting him to defer the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) meeting, have decided not to attend the meeting. 

Sources told 24News TV channel that the boycott came as CJP Afridi was chairing the JCP meeting to discuss the appointment of eight judges in the apex court. The meeting was held in Islamabad.  

The names of five senior judges from the country’s five high courts have come under discussion at the meeting for their elevation to the Supreme Court. 

However, Barrister Ali Zafar, who had also opposed the meeting and had called for its adjournment, has decided to attend it, saying he wanted to put his message across to the judges. 

Meanwhile, lawyers from Sindh and other parts of the country have congregated at Islamabad’s D-Chowk to register their protest against the 26th constitutional amendment and the JCP meeting.

On the other hand, extraordinary security arrangements have been made in and around the SC building as the All Pakistan Lawyers’ Action Committee plans to hold a demonstration at the Constitution Avenue.

Only the Margalla Road, leading to the apex court, remains open while the Jinnah Underpass has been closed by placing containers.

It is worth-mentioning here that Senator Ali Zafar, a member of the JCP, and four SC judges had voiced their concern over the JCP’s meeting and requested the CJP to defer it. 

Senator Zafar had on Sunday penned a letter to Justice Afridi, a copy of which was also dispatched to all members of the JCP, in which he requested for the deferment of the commission’s meeting until the decision in the 26th Constitutional Amendment case and resolution of the issue concerning the appointment of judges in the Islamabad High Court (IHC).

Earlier, four SC justices had written to the CJP, requesting for the postponement of the Judicial Commission meeting scheduled for February 10th. 

The letter, signed by Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice Ayesha Malik, and Justice Athar Minallah, raised concerns about the timing of the appointment of judges in light of the ongoing 26th Amendment case.

The justices argued that the appointment of new judges before the resolution of the 26th Amendment case could create a conflict, particularly regarding the composition of a full court hearing.
 

Reporters: Hashir Warraich