SC judges to monitor anti-terror courts

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi has reconstituted various administrative committees besides assigning the task to several judges of the apex court to supervise anti-terrorism courts (ATCs) in the country.

In this respect, the Supreme Court Registrar Office has issued separate notifications for all committee formations and appointments. The CJP initiated the move after seven judges of different high courts were elevated to the Supreme Court.

The other day, the four high courts’ chief justices -- Sindh High Court (SHC) Chief Justice Muhammad Shafi Siddiqui, Balochistan High Court (BHC) Chief Justice Muhammad Hashim Kakar, Peshawar High Court (PHC) Chief Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim and Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Aamer Farooq took oath as judges of the apex court.

Similarly, SHC judge Justice Salahuddin Panhwar and PHC judge Justice Shakeel Ahmed were also elevated to the Supreme Court. Likewise, IHC judge Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb took oath as acting judge of the Supreme Court. The CJP had nominated Justice Aurngazeb as the acting for his expertise in corporate and tax matters.

Meanwhile, Justice Yahya Afridi reconstituted the six-member Case Management Committee, headed by him along with other members, Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan, Justice Shahid Bilal Hassan and Justice Shafi Siddiqui. The committee would also comprise additional registrar as well as IT director as its members.

Similarly, the CJP appointed judges to supervise anti-terrorism courts in different provinces. He appointed Justice Musarrat Hilali to supervise ATCs in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Justice Malik Shahzad Ahmed Khan supervise the ATCs in Punjab, while Justice Kakar would supervise the courts in Balochistan, Justice Panhwar would in Sindh province, and Justice Aamer Farooq would supervise the ATCs in the federal capital.

Meanwhile, the CJP appointed Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail as head of Supreme Court Building Committee with Justice Shafi Siddiqui and Justice Aamer Farooq as its members. Similarly, Justice Afridi took the responsibility to supervise personally, the Information Technology (IT) Committee, while Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Aurangzeb would be its members.

Likewise, the CJP assigned the task to Justice Shahid Bilal Hassan to lead the Research Centre with Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Shafi Siddiqui as members, while Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar would be heading the Law Clerkship Programme Committee with Justice Aurangzeb as a member.

Similarly, five judges, the chief justice himself, Justice Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi, Justice Kakar, Justice Panhwar and Justice Shakeel Ahmad would hear various chamber appeals. The CJP also has given Justice Rizvi, the charge of Supreme Court Archive and Museum Committee with Justice Panwhar and Justice Aurangzeb as its members.

Likewise, Justice Malik Shahzad Ahmed would chair the committee on model courts and swift justice with Justice Kakar, Justice Panhwar and Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim would be its members. The CJP also designated Justice Ibrahim as the Supreme Court’s security judge for supervising security matters at the apex court’s building, branch registry as well as judges’ colony.

Similarly, he appointed Justice Aurangzeb as the liaison judge for child custody cases under the Pakistan-UK protocol. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court dissolved the committee responsible for checking the quality of staff uniforms.