Judicial Commission adds fives more judges in Constitutional Bench

Judicial Commission of Pakistan on Friday approved the addition of five more judges in Supreme Court of Pakistan its constitutional bench, bringing the total number of judges on the bench to 13, reported 24NewsHD TV channel. 

According to official press release, the newly-appointed judges include Justice Hashim Kakar, Justice Amir Farooq, Justice Shakil Ahmad, Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim, and Justice Salahuddin Panhwar. 

Previously, the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) had appointed Justice Amin-ud-Din Khan as head of the constitutional bench in the Supreme Court. 

JCP, led by Chief Justice Yahya Afridi, constituted the constitutional bench in a 7-5 split decision, with the majority of members voting in favor of its formation. 

The constitutional bench has been formed for a period of 60 days, according to sources. The bench will be headed by Justice Amin-ud-Din Khan, with Justices Ayesha Malik, Naeem Akhtar Afghan, Athar Minallah, Hassan Azhar Rizvi, Musarrat Hilali, and Jamal Khan Mandokhail also included as members. 

Justice Ayesha Malik will represent Punjab, while Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail will represent Balochistan. The meeting was attended by senior puisne judge Justice Shah, Justice Akhtar, Justice Amin-ud-Din Khan, Senator Farooq H. Naek, MNA Sheikh Aftab Ahmad, MNA Omar Ayub, Roshan Khursheed Bharucha, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, Senator Shibli Faraz, Attorney General for Pakistan Mansoor Usman Awan, and Pakistan Bar Council representative Akhtar Hussain.