JCP meeting called for elevation of PHC CJ to SC: sources

Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial has summoned a meeting of Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) on June 14 to deliberate the elevation of Peshawar High Court's (PHC) top judge to the Supreme Court (SC), revealed sources privy to the matter.

The JCP meeting will be held with CJP Bandial in the chair. The meeting will consider elevation of Peshawar High Court (PHC) Chief Justice Musarrat Hilali to the apex court, the sources added.

Currently, the top court is functioning with 15 judges, including the chief justice, against the sanctioned strength of 17 judges.

Last month, SC Senior Puisne Judge Justice Qazi Faez Isa penned a letter to CJP Bandial urging him to immediately convene a meeting of the JCP to fill the vacancies of the judges in the apex court. He also suggested the names of the chief justices of the SHC and PHC for the posts.

The JCP last met in October, 2022 where three judges were elevated to the top court.

The JCP is a constitutional body that decides appointments to the apex court, high courts, and the Federal Shariat Court.

The JCP is headed by the CJP, the next senior-most four judges, a former chief justice or SC judge, the law minister, the attorney general, and a senior SC advocate nominated by the Pakistan Bar Council.

The JCP meeting should consider the names of the two judges on the seniority principle, urged Justice Isa.